When the Atlanta Falcons benched Kirk Cousins for rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. late in December, the move signaled a shift toward the

Shift explains why it actually makes sense for the Atlanta Falcons to keep Kirk Cousins as their backup quarterback, and why it makes sense for Kirk Cousins to stay in Atlanta.

Perhaps the biggest layer is Cousins's no-trade clause. He has the right to waive it and decline trades to other teams, which makes sense for his camp considering a trade would detract assets from his new team. Fontenot said whether the Falcons can adjust Cousins's no-trade clause is a private discussion that will happen in due time.

The Falcons have a crucial decision to make on a potential Kirk Cousins trade, but they aren't in a rush to make a move.

When the Falcons signed quarterback Kirk Cousins as a free agent last March, there was little thought that he'd be out of the starting job before the end of his first season in Atlanta but that's how things went.

Could Kirk Cousins reunite with Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland? Here's why this rumor has people talking-and why you shouldn't believe it just yet.

Kirk Cousins and the defense. They will have to explore ways of getting rid of the veteran while supporting their franchise quarterback in Michael Penix Jr.