The contract quarterback Kirk Cousins signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in March 2026 includes a structure that will leave his former team, the Atlanta Falcons, with a significant financial burden. According to verified NFL salary cap data, the Falcons will carry $8.7 million in "dead money" on their 2026 salary cap as a result of the deal.
Cousins, who played for Atlanta in 2024 and 2025, was released by the team earlier this offseason. His previous contract contained guaranteed money that accelerated onto the Falcons' cap when he was cut. The Raiders' new contract with Cousins, while not directly causing the charge, is structured in a way that does not provide Atlanta with any offset relief for the guaranteed sum they still owe.
This situation is a common but impactful element of NFL team management, where the financial ramifications of a player's release can affect a franchise's salary cap for years. The $8.7 million charge will limit the Falcons' spending flexibility for the 2026 season as they build their roster.
