Kirk Cousins ranked better than league average in CBS QB rankings

The Falcons easily experienced the most dramatic improvement at the quarterback position this offseason, going from Desmond Ridder to Kirk Cousins.

The former third-round pick’s poor play cost Arthur Smith his job last year, and the new regime didn’t mess around this time, inking Cousins to a $180 million deal in free agency while also investing in the future by taking Michael Penix with their top draft pick.

The Falcons quite literally went from one of the least stable quarterbacks to the most stable. Cousins isn’t the best by any means, but he’s head and shoulders better than what the club had last year.

If you ask CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin, Kirk Cousins is slightly better than league average, 14th in the NFL and 6th in the NFC.

Under pressure to make good on his big free-agent deal after the Falcons ‘ surprise first-round pick of Michael Penix Jr. , Cousins adds much-needed reliability to an ascending Atlanta squad. Going on 36 and coming off an Achilles tear, he still projects as a steady play-action rifle.

Below is the full list:

1. Patrick Mahomes
2. Brock Purdy
3. Josh Allen
4. Joe Burrow
5. C.J. Stroud
6. Lamar Jackson
7. Jalen Hurts
8. Dak Prescott
9. Justin Herbert
10. Jordan Love
11. Aaron Rodgers
12. Tua Tagovailoa
13. Jared Goff
14. Kirk Cousins
15. Trevor Lawrence
16. Matthew Stafford
17. Deshaun Watson
18. Geno Smith
19. Russell Wilson
20. Baker Mayfield
21. Kyler Murray
22. Will Levis
23. Caleb Williams
24. Anthony Richardson
25. J.J. McCarthy
26. Derek Carr
27. Jacoby Brissett
28. Jayden Daniels
29. Gardner Minshew
30. Bo Nix
31. Bryce Young
32. Daniel Jones

I actually don’t think this is a horrible list, which is a pleasant surprise because most of the time they’re garbage.

Cousins is arguably a top 5 quarterback in the conference. He was certainly one of the best signal callers across the entire league last year before his season ending injury.

Granted, an Achilles injury isn’t exactly a given to come back from, but Cousins was never a mobile quarterback. He should be just fine behind a solid offensive line with plenty of weapons to distribute the ball.

The fact is the NFC is wide open, and the Falcons have one of the best signal callers in the conference. They’ll have a shot.