The Washington Commanders are in serious trouble after a 3-6 start to the season, and things only got worse with the injury news involving star quarterback Jayden Daniels on Monday, November 3.
“QB Jayden Daniels, who left Sunday’s loss with his left arm immobilized, suffered a dislocated elbow and will have an MRI to determine how long he’s out, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday,” according to NFL.com. “He’s expected to miss several games.”
Backup Marcus Mariota has started three times (1-2) in place of Daniels this season, who has dealt with an array of injury issues, and will presumably do so again next week against the Detroit Lions and on into the future. However, Washington is still in need of a quarterback, as 39-year-old Josh Johnson is currently No. 2 on the depth chart with Daniels out.
The Commanders won’t have given up on the season yet with six tallies in the loss column and eight games yet to play. If Mariota gets hurt or struggles mightily, the team needs someone to whom it can turn.
Enter Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons.
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Cousins is currently in the second season of a $180 million contract (four years), but lost his job late in 2024 to then rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. The Falcons started Cousins in a loss to the Miami Dolphins two weeks ago due to an injury Penix suffered. However, Penix returned last week, and Cousins has presumably reverted back to the trading block, where the Falcons have had him since the preseason.
The reason Cousins is still in Atlanta is because of his $27.5 million base salary in 2025. Atlanta has always wanted any trade partner to assume the majority of that financial burden, which is a primary factor in why there have been no takers.
But prorated, that figure is now $13.75 million at the season’s halfway point, so a team like Washington might be able to land Cousins for a Day 3 draft pick and a willingness to take on around half of his remaining salary.
The four-time Pro Bowler isn’t the same QB he was with the Minnesota Vikings from 2018-23, when he went to three Pro Bowls, or even the player he was as the Commanders’ starter from 2015-17, when he earned one Pro Bowl nod.
But Cousins still has a strong arm when healthy, and Washington owes its fans some kind of move at QB after leaving Daniels in the game during a blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9, which ultimately resulted in his injury.
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