The Falcons finally have a competent quarterback in the building, and Kirk Cousins is set up for success in Atlanta.
The offensive line returns all five starters from a year ago; continuity is one of the most underrated factors in successful units. Moreover, the development of Drew Dalman, Chris Lindstrom, and Matthew Bergeron should make it even better than last season.
The skill group is headlined by three top 10 picks in Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts; all of whom are poised to break out with their new signal caller. Additionally, the Falcons have Darnell Mooney and Tyler Allgeier as supplementary pieces.
More than anything, the club may have one of the brightest young offensive minds coordinating that unit in Zac Robinson. The former Rams quarterbacks coach was the hottest offensive coordinator candidate this offseason. Every head coach with an opening wanted Robinson, but he followed Raheem Morris to Atlanta.
Kirk Cousins has everything to succeed with the Falcons, even potentially competing for his first ever MVP. Bleacher Report included the veteran among under-the-radar MVP candidates, and I couldn’t agree more.
In less than eight games, Kirk Cousins completed 70% of his passes for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns to only 5 interceptions, good for a 103.8 passer rating. It’s impossible to know what he would’ve done over 17 games, but he was on pace for around 4,950 yards, 38 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a 69% completion percentage.
For context, those figures would’ve led the league in a number of passing categories. Cousins would’ve led the NFL in completions, passing yards, and tied for passing touchdowns. He would’ve also set or matched several franchise records.
If he kept pace, the new Falcons quarterback would’ve set a new single season record for completions, attempts, passing yards, and tied for most passing touchdowns. Matt Ryan set a lot of those in 2016 when he won MVP. Granted, Ryan had 16 games to work with compared to 17 for Cousins, but the possibility of the Falcons signal caller winning an MVP is very real.
With all of that being said, a new quarterback in a new system with new teammates winning an MVP is a long stretch. It makes it even more difficult when that player is coming off a torn Achilles, which is exactly why Cousins is an under-the-radar candidate.
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Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire
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