Kirk Cousins Current NFL Contract and Salary
Kirk Cousins signed a three-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024, with a reported average annual value around $35 million and a total contract value near $105 million, including significant guarantees and signing bonuses, according to NFL salary-cap analyses and team reporting. The Falcons placed Cousins under the franchise tag in 2024 before finalizing the long-term agreement, and his base salary for the 2024 season was set at roughly $35 million, making him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league that year Forbes.
The contract includes a full no-trade clause, a large signing bonus, and roster bonuses structured to provide Cousins with security while keeping the Falcons under the salary cap in later years, with cap hits that rise modestly as the deal progresses. His total compensation package combines base salary, incentives, and bonuses, and the deal was structured to front-load guarantees to protect Cousins in case of injury or performance decline OverTheCap.
Kirk Cousins Earnings History and Previous Contracts
Before joining the Falcons, Cousins earned a four-year, $180 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings in 2018, which included $84 million guaranteed and an average annual value near $45 million, making him the first quarterback to sign a fully guaranteed contract at that time NFL.com. His base salary with the Vikings started lower in the first year and increased significantly in later years, with cap hits that reflected both his rising market value and the guaranteed money already paid out.
During his time with the Vikings, Cousins earned a total of roughly $140 million in guaranteed money across the first two seasons, with additional incentives tied to passing yards, touchdowns, and team wins, and his earnings placed him among the top five highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL by total compensation Spotrac. After his final Vikings season in 2023, Cousins became a free agent and quickly attracted interest from multiple teams before the Falcons won the bidding war with a lucrative offer sheet.
Kirk Cousins Salary Compared to Other NFL Quarterbacks
In the 2024 NFL season, Cousins' average annual value of around $35 million ranks him among the top five highest-paid quarterbacks, behind Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, and Josh Allen in average annual terms, though his total guarantees and signing bonuses are competitive with the top tier OverTheCap. His salary fits within the Falcons' cap structure, with the team balancing his earnings alongside investments in other key positions such as edge rushers, offensive linemen, and defensive playmakers.
Compared to peers, Cousins' contract is structured with a higher proportion of guaranteed money upfront and lower performance-based incentives, which reduces risk for the team while ensuring Cousins receives a stable income stream over the life of the deal. His earnings trajectory shows a steady increase from his early career backup roles to his current status as a top-tier free-agent quarterback, and his current pay places him firmly in the upper echelon of NFL compensation for signal-callers