As the Pittsburgh Steelers continue their search for a new quarterback, things have begun to look bleak. Pittsburgh seems to be willing to wait patiently for a decision from veteran Aaron Rodgers on where he would want to sign for the upcoming season. If the Steelers were confident before that Rodgers would choose Pittsburgh, then that notion might be quickly fading. Steelers fans gained little insight from Rodgers' appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday. The Steelers now seem motivated to seriously explore their other options if they weren't already. If they do opt to try and land another veteran, Kirk Cousins has been named as a possible fit. The prospect of Cousins as a Pittsburgh Steeler has gained mixed reactions. Former NFL running back LeSean McCoy had a blunt assessment of Cousins' ability to lead the team.
Atlanta Falcons
Kirk Cousins in his time with the Atlanta Falcons warming up before a game.
Neither of the veteran prospects that have been thrown around in the Steelers' quarterback conversation are most people's first choices. After letting Russell Wilson and Justin Fields leave Pittsburgh as free agents, the Steelers have been scrambling for a new quarterback. On Friday, McCoy appeared on FS1's The Facility and spoke regarding Cousin's ability to impact heavily in the Steel City. McCoy didn't have any good things to say about the quarterback.
"You're getting no production with expensive payments; Kirk Cousins is an expensive payment that's not going to be productive," McCoy said. "His days are over."
Cousins was benched last year when playing for the Atlanta Falcons for what even he admitted was a sub-par performance. It certainly wasn't a performance that inspired confidence and shouldn't give Steelers fans hope if Cousins lands in Pittsburgh. For right now, Cousins amounts to a pricey backup and would be better staying as Atlanta's problem.
If the Steelers do acquire Cousins, it would likely only be if they could land the quarterback at a discount, or if Pittsburgh became even more desperate.
Rich von Biberstein / Getty Images
Kirk Cousins is sacked during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It's one thing to pursue Rodgers, a four-time league MVP and Super Bowl champion, even though the quarterback is past him prime. Cousins has no such accolades that would suggest he can perform at a high level, despite being a solidified veteran at this point in his career. Now, the Steelers seem likely to look towards the draft to try and land a starter-caliber signal-caller.
The Steelers' hunt for a rookie has been extensive this offseason. Shedeur Sanders, who is widely considered one of the most talented quarterbacks in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, visited Pittsburgh for a pre-draft meeting earlier this month. Before there was talk of Sanders possibly sliding in the draft, some of the other biggest prospects that were named as possible Steelers picks were Jalen Milroe and Jaxon Dart.
Most of the quarterback prospects that the Steelers have been speculated to take, such as Sanders, Dart and Milroe, have been seen all over draft boards to early first round, all the way to early third round. In other words, it has been heavily debated as to whether any of them are truly projected to become franchise quarterbacks. However, there is a risk associated with every draft pick, and the Steelers could be prepared to develop a rookie over time.
Steelers Will Have Other QB Options In Later Rounds
Quarterback Tyler Shough is a lesser-known name that has been pitched as a possible Steelers quarterback too. Shough is considered a later round pick, however has been described as having a high ceiling. If the Steelers are going to rely on a rookie to lead the franchise for the foreseeable future, than Shough could be a promising candidate.
Clare Grant / Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Former Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough gets ready to throw the football during a home game in college.
Regardless of if the Steelers opt for a veteran or a rookie, it is unlikely at this stage that Cousins has a place on the roster.
Do you think the Steelers should acquire Cousins from the Falcons? Would you want the Steelers to start a veteran in the upcoming season, or take a chance with a rookie quarterback? Let us know in the comments.
#SteelerNation
