Cleveland currently has Joe Flacco, rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders and Pickett competing for the QB1 spot with Deshaun Watson out (Achilles). The Falcons could strike a deal where they front $17.5 million of Cousins' guaranteed money for 2025, and Pickett would be Atlanta's new QB2. -- Jeremy Fowler

The NFL is a quarterback-driven league, and no team has committed more resources to the position than the Atlanta Falcons over the last two offseasons. The team signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract at the start of the 2024 free agency period, then used the No. 8 pick in the draft to select Michael Penix Jr.

Now it’s up to Michael Penix Jr. to spend the second year of his rookie contract to save the Atlanta Falcons from Kirk Cousins and their $180 million mistake.