Atlanta Falcons to sign Kirk Cousins as their next quarterback

The big picture: New Falcons head coach Raheem Morris has said finding the right signal caller would be among the team's top priorities going into the offseason. Atlanta now has their guy.

• The deal will be worth $180 million with a $50 million signing bonus and $100 million guaranteed per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Zoom in: Cousins has spent the past six seasons in Minnesota where he compiled a 50-37-1 record with the Vikings.

• Before that, he spent six years with Washington going 26-30-1.

Yes, but: He's won just one playoff game in four tries between his time with the Vikings and Washington and is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury.

• He will turn 36 before week one of the 2024-25 NFL season begins.

Between the lines: Signing veteran quarterbacks in hopes of a Super Bowl chase has been commonplace in the NFL.

• The Denver Broncos made a similar move with 36-year-old Peyton Manning in 2012, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did it with Tom Brady in 2020 when he was 43 and the Los Angeles Rams did it with Matthew Stafford in 2021 at age 33.
• All three teams went on to win Super Bowls.

The other side: The New York Jets tried to recreate the magic last season by signing Aaron Rodgers at age 40 but he tore his Achilles a few snaps into the season.

My thought bubble: The Falcons moved on from Matt Ryan after his age-36 season and he had no major injuries. Signing Cousins to such a big deal is a major risk and one that hopefully doesn't doom Atlanta in the next few years.