What will Kirk Cousins’ immediate impact be early in the season?

Cousins ​​represents an upgrade at the position from what the Falcons have experienced over the past two seasons, there’s no doubt about it. He enters a favorable situation filled with young playmakers and a full complement of returning starters on the offensive line. There are, of course, unknown factors in Atlanta’s offense. But this unit has all the elements to become one of the surprise groups in the NFL, and quickly.

How fast is coming back to Cousins. What will his presence mean for the Falcons, and how soon will it be felt? This is what our group of writers gathered to discuss today. Let’s dig!

Tori McElhaney: A quarterback is only as good as his receivers, and vice versa. If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that. This double meaning statement is why I think we’ll see Kirk Cousins’ impact most immediately in the early productions of Drake London and Kyle Pitts, in particular.

London and Pitts were the two players the Falcons front office led by Terry Fontenot staked their claim on with back-to-back top-10 picks in the draft. They were so coveted because of the mismatch opportunities they presented on the field. We got a glimpse of why the Falcons spent such valuable recruiting capital on them. With Matt Ryan at quarterback, Pitts was a rookie phenom. Since joining the Falcons, London has been nothing less than their WR1. When it comes to those two, though, the notion the last couple of years has been this: If they get more consistent play at the quarterback position, their numbers skyrocket.

Well, the numbers back it up: Cousins ​​is one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the league right now.

For over a decade, Cousins ​​has established a completion percentage that stands at 66.9%. For reference, Ryan’s completion percentage over his first 12 seasons in the league was 65.4% while Matthew Stafford’s was 62.6%. According to Pro Football Reference, Cousins ​​ranks fourth in completion percentage among all active quarterbacks. Cousins ​​also spent six seasons of his career ranked in the top 10 in completions and touchdowns.

Do you know who benefits the most from this? One could hope for London and Pitts.

Will McFadden: For fans wondering if last year’s torn Achilles tendon will impact Cousins ​​early in the season, I think it’s a good question. It can take time to knock the rust out of the game, and many major injuries have a psychological component that must be overcome.

Sorry for the disappointing start, I promise it will get better from now on.

Cousins ​​was a full participant throughout OTAs and minicamps, and there’s nothing at this point to indicate he’ll be wrong about his March prediction that he’ll be “full speed ahead” at camp. ‘training. This gives the 12-year veteran a good window to ramp up before Week 1.

Historically, Cousins ​​has been very solid coming off the block. During his nine seasons as a starter in the NFL, Cousins ​​averaged a 66.7 completion percentage, 1,061 passing yards, seven touchdown passes and three interceptions during the his team’s first four games. His recent play is even better. Since the 2021 season, Cousins ​​has averaged a 66.9 completion percentage, 1,122 passing yards with 8.6 touchdown passes and 3 interceptions through his team’s first four games.

For comparison, this was Matt Ryan’s stat line through the first four games of the 2017 season, the last time the Falcons reached the playoffs: 65.19% success rate, 1 109 passing yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions.

Cousins ​​is going to be a breath of fresh air for Falcons fans if he plays anywhere near the level his career thus far suggests. He has weapons that can attack multiple areas of the field, which is part of Cousins’ strengths as a rangy thrower and pre-snap savvy. With all that working in his favor, I expect his presence to be felt early and often.

Terrin Waack: At the bare minimum, consistency. This is what the Falcons have really lacked at quarterback in recent years. They have been going through options since trading Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts after the 2021 season.

And look, they tried. The Falcons believed in every passer who followed in Ryan’s footsteps. They first signed Marcus Mariota to a two-year deal, clearly wanting a veteran presence and planning to keep him around longer than they did. They then drafted Desmond Ridder, probably thinking he would learn behind Mariota and become a starter when he was ready, since a rookie contract lasts four years.

Neither situation went as planned. No need to rehash the details. Mariota was released after the 2022 season. Ridder was traded after 2023. Neither completed a full season of play.

Now, the Falcons enter 2024 with Cousins. Before tearing his Achilles tendon in Week 8 last season, Cousins ​​had missed just two games since 2015. The Falcons need a quarterback like that, ready to lead the offensive on a weekly basis. This should allow the unit to rock and roll smoothly.

Amna Subhan: When week one begins, Kirk Cousins’ biggest impact will be his experience. It may take Cousins ​​a little time to regain his balance following a torn Achilles tendon, but all the wisdom he’s gained from 12 years of NFL play won’t did not require rehabilitation.

His veteran leadership will be especially beneficial to the Falcons’ young and talented group of pass catchers. We’ve already seen this take shape this offseason with Cousins ​​intentionally building a “shared story” with his teammates by watching film and connecting with them in the way they learn best.

Come September, that will mean stability the Falcons haven’t seen at the quarterback position in years, even after returning from injury. Expect an increase in offensive percentages, but also expect a quarterback who can stabilize a team. The Falcons let several games slip away last season, Cousins’ experience will bridge that gap. Mistakes from the young guys on the offensive end will decrease and there will be a level of confidence at the end of the game.

No matter what adversity the Falcons face early in the season, Cousins ​​will be able to get the Falcons through to the other side – probably because he’s been through it before.