This week marks the beginning of offseason training activities (OTAs) forNFLteams across the league. Twenty teams took to the field on May 27 for the first day of the four-week training program. TheAtlanta Falconswere one of the first teams to take the field, with one notable absence: quarterbackKirk Cousins.Falconscoach Raheem Morris said Cousins wasnot at the opening day of the voluntary activities. Falcons QB Kirk Cousins is not in attendance today for the team's voluntary OTAs, HC Raheem Morris told reporters.pic.twitter.com/Q6oZEAAb5x — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)May 27, 2025 Cousins is coming off a down year by his standards. He signed thebiggest contract in free agency last offseasonand started 14 games for the Falcons in 2024. He posted 18 touchdowns – tied for a career season-low with at least eight starts – and led the league in interceptions with a career-high 16. OPINION:Kirk Cousins, the $180 million QB, got a Blank check, not a blank check Atlanta turned to first-round rookie quarterbackMichael Penixdown the stretch of the 2024 season as they made a push for the playoffs. Penix started the final three games of the regular season with awin over the New York Giantsbefore overtime losses toWashingtonandCarolinathat ended the Falcons' postseason hopes. The franchise looks set to move along with Penix as the starter in 2025. Cousins has a no-trade clause in the contract he signed last offseason and would have to waive that in a potential deal. Prior to the 2025 NFL Draft, therehaven't been substantial trade talksinvolving Cousins, a person close to the situation told USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon. Will Kirk Cousins get traded?How Falcons plan to navigate QB conundrum "You want to see him go on to be the best version of himself," Falcons coach Raheem Morris said in April. "This is not a thing where we're holding you back. If the opportunity presents itself as something that's good for both of us – it's good for the Falcons and for Kirk Cousins – we'd certainly like to see that happen." Kirk Cousins landing spots:Browns, Giants best fits if Falcons release QB There is no live contact during OTAs, which are voluntary, but there are 7-on-7, 9-on-9 and 11-on-11 drills. Each franchise is allowed 10 total days of organized team practice. In 2025, Cousins will be in his age-37 season andtwo years removed from Achilles surgerythat ended his final season with theMinnesota Vikings. One of the biggest obstacles to get around in a trade scenario is Cousins' contract. If the Falcons trade Cousins before June 1, they'd carry $37.5 million in total dead money on their salary cap for 2025, perOverTheCap, and save $2.5 million. If they trade him after June 1, they'd have a $12.5 million dead cap hit but $27.5 million in cap savings. It's financially in the team's interest to trade him instead of cutting him to save money. If the team cuts Cousins before June 1, they'd carry $65 million in dead money on the cap in 2025. If they cut him after June 1, they'd carry $40 million in dead money with no cap savings. If Atlanta keeps him on the roster for 2025 as a backup, Cousins would be a $40 million cap hit. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Kirk Cousins not in attendance for Atlanta Falcons' first OTAs
