Let’s talk about Kirk Cousins. Specifically, his wallet. You might think you know how much he’s making this year.
But trust me. The number is wild.
Here’s the headline: Kirk Cousins is earning a base salary of $35 million in 2024. Yes, you read that right.
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That’s more than most NFL players will see in a career. And he’s getting it in one year.
But Wait, There’s More
That $35 million is just the guaranteed part. He also has roster bonuses, workout bonuses, and per-game active bonuses.
Add it all up, and his cap hit for the Atlanta Falcons this season is $37.5 million. That’s a lot of chicken wings.
His total contract? $180 million over four years. With $100 million fully guaranteed.
Let that sink in. One hundred million dollars. Guaranteed.
The Quirky Part
Here’s where it gets fun. Kirk Cousins is not a superstar quarterback. He’s never won a Super Bowl. He’s never been MVP.
But he’s the highest-paid player on the Falcons roster. And he’s actually making more than Patrick Mahomes this year in cash.
Yes, the guy with the fancy haircut and the “You Like That?” catchphrase is out-earning Mahomes in 2024. That’s beautiful chaos.
How? It’s all about timing and leverage. Cousins hit free agency at the perfect moment. The Falcons were desperate for a quarterback.
And he’s 38 years old. That’s ancient in NFL years. But somehow, he’s getting richer.
Kirk Cousins career earnings and how much he's getting paid in latest
The Funniest Detail
Here’s a quirky fact: Cousins makes more in one game than most people make in a decade. His weekly check is about $2.3 million.
That’s roughly $145,000 per throw (if you divide his salary by his average passing attempts). And sometimes he throws interceptions!
Imagine messing up at work and still getting paid $145,000 for that specific mistake. That’s the dream.
Another wild detail: He signed this contract after tearing his Achilles tendon last year. A 38-year-old coming off a major injury. And he got nine figures.
That’s not just luck. That’s leverage with a capital L.
Why This is Fun to Talk About
Because it’s absurd. We love watching normal-looking guys become absurdly rich. Kirk Cousins looks like your accountant, but he’s a money-making machine.
He drives a minivan. He’s famously frugal. But his bank account says otherwise.
It’s also hilarious because the Falcons drafted a quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., in the first round. That means Cousins is getting paid like a franchise guy, but the team has his replacement waiting.
So Cousins is basically a temp with a gold-plated contract. That’s comedy gold.
And let’s not forget the taxes. He plays in Georgia, where the state income tax is a flat 5.49%. That’s actually decent for a rich guy.
But he’ll lose about $2 million to state taxes alone. Boo hoo, right?
Kirk Cousins career earnings: Here's how much money new Falcons QB has
The Big Picture
By the end of the 2024 season, Cousins will have earned over $300 million in his entire career. That’s Hall of Fame money—for a very good, not elite, quarterback.
He’s the king of the middle class of NFL quarterbacks. And that middle class now pays like royalty.
So how much is Kirk Cousins making this year? Enough to buy the entire McDonald’s menu every day for the rest of his life. Plus a few islands.
Enough to buy a private jet (which he doesn’t, because he’s Kirk Cousins). Enough to fund a small country.
And the best part? He’s still underpaid compared to what the market says he could get. Next year, his cap hit jumps to over $40 million.
That’s the NFL math for you. A wild, wonderful game of pretend numbers.
The Final Punchline
When you see Cousins drop back to pass this fall, remember: Every time he throws the ball, he’s earning the price of a brand-new Tesla.
Every time he wins a game, he’s making what a doctor earns in a decade. Every time he loses, he’s still laughing to the bank.
That’s the magic of Kirk Cousins. He’s proof that consistency pays more than flashiness.
So the next time someone asks, “How much is Kirk Cousins making this year?” Just smile and say: “Enough to make you cry—and then buy you a drink with the change.”
Now go enjoy a game. And remember, every completion is your mortgage payment for a year.