Kirk Cousins said Wednesday that part of the reason he signed with the Atlanta Falcons was the team's long-term vision for the quarterback.

His wife, Julie, grew up near Atlanta. Cousins has spent parts of offseasons in his father-in-law's basement in Johns Creek, Georgia.

"I think in Minnesota it was trending over the last couple offseasons to being somewhat year-to-year," Cousins said. "And as we talked with Atlanta, it felt like this was a place where, if I play at the level I expect to play, that I can retire a Falcon.

"And that was something that really excited me, and that's certainly the goal and you gotta earn the right to do that."

Cousins continues to recover from a torn right Achilles suffered in October, the first surgery of the 35-year-old's life. He called the rehab "a really positive process" and credited the Vikings training staff and his own trainers for helping him get through the first few months following surgery.