Kirk Cousins remonstratingKirk Cousins (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Kirk Cousins’ reason for leaving the Minnesota Vikings has been revealed, and it appears the veteran quarterback has been played.

The Atlanta Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year deal worth $180 million earlier this offseason, surprising just about everyone. It was even more surprising when they decided to select another QB in the first round of last month’s NFL Draft.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Falcons won out in negotiations not only because they offered more money but because the Vikings were frank with Cousins over the possibility of them selecting a signal-caller high in the draft even if he opted to stick around.

Cousins high-tailed it out of town once their intentions were made clear. Ironically enough, the Falcons did exactly what he left Minnesota for, taking Michael Penix Jr. with the 8th overall pick.

Cousins is said to have appreciated that the Vikings were upfront with him about their plans. He might not be all that happy with his new team right now. It will be interesting to see how the relationship plays out.

Kirk Cousins Can’t Be Happy

“Still, it had to be a crappy call to take if you were Cousins, considering the basis of the decision you’d made six weeks earlier,” Breer wrote on the call the Falcons made to Cousins right before they drafted Penix.

“It remains to be seen, of course, if that’ll lead to any sort of early fissure in the player-team relationship there. I think they’ll be able to get past it, because head coach Raheem Morris is a phenomenal relationship guy, and Cousins is an adult. But if there are early bumps in the season, this one will be interesting to watch.”

Kirk Cousins Is Headed Into the Most Unpredictable Period Of His Career Despite His Long-Term Deal

Kirk Cousins was trying to find a setup where he would be a starter for more than one season. He might not get that in Atlanta. Instead, Penix will be biting at his heels now, which could place him under pressure to perform.

According to reports, he was completely blindsided by the team drafting the younger QB. The move left him “shocked” and “disappointed.”

While he’s signed to a four-year deal, it won’t be difficult for the team to move on from him sooner. That means he has to be absolutely stellar for them to keep him around.