The most eye-popping move of NFL free agency this offseason was the Atlanta Falcons giving Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract, which was a lot of money for an aging quarterback coming off a torn Achilles, but arguably the right move for a team that felt it was just a quarterback away from competing.
New Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris recently revealed why the Falcons made the move and what it means for them going forward.
“What matters is we believe he’s good enough for us to win a championship,” Morris told Ryan Clark of ESPN.
“What matters is we believe he’s good enough for us to win a championship” – Raheem Morris on Kirk Cousins @AtlantaFalcons’ head coach Raheem Morris believes Kirk Cousins can become Matthew Stafford. Morris & the latter won a Super Bowl with the @RamsNFL when Stafford’s talents… pic.twitter.com/Kc9Zo4Tq2W
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) August 2, 2024
Morris has connections with Cousins from his time with the Washington Commanders and brought up how he was the defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams when they won a Super Bowl with Matthew Stafford, another quarterback who was criticized for not having playoff success before getting plenty of it in a new destination when surrounded by some younger players and a more dynamic play-caller.
It was an interesting and healthy perspective from Morris, and a sensible comparison to draw to Cousins, as Stafford had a similar career with the Detroit Lions up to the point when he joined the Rams.
Cousins will have all the weapons he needs in Atlanta and a coaching staff that believes in him, so it will be interesting to see if he can have a Stafford-like run with the Falcons and bring them that elusive Super Bowl title.
