The Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract just last offseason, but his struggles in 2024 resulted in the team turning to Penix late in the campaign. Now, Penix is the team's starting quarterback, with Cousins being a potential trade candidate as the draft approaches.

The Saints have over $27 million in cap space and as glaring a need under center as any team in the league. The fourth-rounder included in this trade is the best pick the Falcons can reasonably expect to get in a Cousins trade. Intra-division trades may be rare. But they aren’t unheard of.