The Falcons don’t have a lot of effective cap space. They are over $14 million in the red actually, according to OverTheCap. That figure ranks 28th in the league, leaving the Falcons with a ton of holes to fill and not enough resources to fill them. Terry Fontenot will have to be creative.
Whether it’s restructures, penny-pinching, out-of-the-box acquisitions, or difficult cuts, the Falcons are going to have to create cap space one way or another. The last of which presents the most challenging decisions, with fan favorite Grady Jarrett headlining the list of notable cut candidates.
Kirk Cousins, QB
Kirk Cousins might be the most likely one on the list to be cut. While Fontenot remains adamant that the Falcons are comfortable keeping Cousins on the roster as Michael Penix’s backup, I find it hard to believe they’d willingly do so. Adam Schefter has reported on multiple occasions that he expects the Falcons to cut Cousins before he’s owed a $10 million roster bonus on March 17. The Falcons would have to absorb a dead-money cap hit of $65 million to release Cousins outright or $40 million to designate him a post-June 1 release.
David Onyemata, DT
David Onyemata has a cap hit just south of $17 million in 2025, and if his 2024 production is any indication of how this upcoming season will go, that’s a gross overpay. Onyemata was apart of one of Fontenot’s initial free agent classes when the Falcons actually had the cap space to participate in free agency without financial restrictions.
His first season sparked confidence, especially before Grady Jarrett went down with a season-ending ACL injury. However, Onyemata regressed significantly in 2024 and is on the wrong side of the 30. By cutting Oneymata, the Falcons can save a little over $8 million, which could be closer to $13 million if it is designated a post-June 1st cut.
Younghoe Koo, K
Younghoe Koo will be an interesting case to watch this offseason. Whether it was the yips or injury, Koo directly cost the Falcons games and likely a postseason berth. In total, he missed nine of his 34 field goal attempts before ending the season on IR. Atlanta can save $3 million by cutting him, but those funds would still have to be allocated to a replacement. It’s an interesting dilemma.
Grady Jarrett, DT
Grady Jarrett is by far the most difficult out of the bunch, and none of it has to do with the on-field production. Jarrett has more cache in Atlanta than anyone, other than Jake Matthews. He is the heart and soul of the Atlanta Falcons. It will not be easy to just cut him.
However, if we remove the emotion from the equation, it makes it much easier. Jarrett has a cap hit north of $20 million next season, and the Falcons can save over $16 million against this year’s cap by releasing him, even more if they designate him a post-June 1st cut.
The Falcons should approach Jarrett about reworking his contract, whether that’s an outright pay cut or an extension to lessen his 2025 cap hit. If Jarrett refuses, conversations can begin about cutting the veteran.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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