The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently navigating significant quarterback uncertainty with a critical void at the starting position. While veteran Aaron Rodgers remains the leading candidate to fill this role, following a reported offer from the team, the Steelers are engaged in an extended and anxious wait for his decision. However, with Rodgers' commitment still unclear and the 2025 NFL Draft rapidly approaching, the Steelers must now actively consider alternative options to address their pressing need for a starting quarterback.
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Former New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks on before a home game during the 2024 season.
Whispers have been circulating within the NFL suggesting a potential interest from the Steelers in acquiring veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is currently under contract with the Atlanta Falcons. Adding credence to these speculations, Diana Russini, a highly respected senior NFL insider for The Athletic, recently published an article that corroborated this reported interest from the Steelers as well as other organizations.
"The [Cleveland] Browns, Steelers and possibly [Minnesota] Vikings could be involved in a [Kirk] Cousins trade. Minnesota is looked at as the least likely scenario, given its preference for J.J. McCarthy and that Cousins would need to sign off on any trade he is involved in," Russini stated.
These teams, at various points, also expressed interest in acquiring Rodgers. Cousins, at 36 years old, is among the more seasoned quarterbacks in the league. However, his age didn't deter the Falcons from signing him to a substantial four-year, $180 million contract last offseason. While Cousins remains with the Falcons, and no official trade offers have been made public, reports indicate his desire to join a team where he can be the immediate starting quarterback, particularly given his age which suggests he may be nearing the end of his professional career.
This interest in a trade is strongly linked to the Falcons' selection of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with their 8th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, a move that occurred just weeks after the Falcons had committed a substantial contract to Cousins. Despite this significant investment in Penix Jr., the Falcons initially named Cousins their starting quarterback for the 2024 season, intending for the rookie to develop by observing and learning from the veteran. However, this plan shifted in Week 16 when Cousins was ultimately benched, and Penix Jr. was named the team's starting quarterback.
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Falcons quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins during practice.
Cousins' performance with his new team wasn't stellar, with a concerning 1-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio across his five starts prior to being benched. The Falcons struggled during this stretch, winning only one of those games, a Week 15 matchup against a struggling Las Vegas Raiders team. With their playoff aspirations hanging in the balance, the Falcons made the difficult decision to bench Cousins in an attempt to secure a coveted playoff berth. Ultimately, however, their efforts fell short, and the Falcons did not qualify for the postseason in 2024.
However, it's important to recall that prior to joining the Falcons after the 2023 NFL season, Cousins suffered a significant Achilles tendon tear during a Week 8 matchup against their NFC North rival, the Green Bay Packers, while he was still with the Vikings. This injury sidelined him for the remainder of the 2023 season, marking his final play as a Viking. This is crucial because the recovery timeline for a major injury like a torn Achilles often extends beyond the immediate offseason, potentially impacting a player's performance and mobility in the following season, something fans might observe from Cousins in the upcoming year.
This history adds an intriguing layer to the fact that the Vikings are even being mentioned as potential contenders for his acquisition, even though it's unlikely according to Russini's report. The other team cited as a possibility is the Cleveland Browns. The Browns currently have three quarterbacks on their roster: Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, and former Steelers first-round draft pick, Kenny Pickett.
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Browns' Kenny Pickett during an interview with the Cleveland media.
It's important to understand that any potential trade involving Cousins would most likely transpire on Saturday, or at the very least after the conclusion of the NFL Draft. This timing would likely be to prevent a recurrence of a situation similar to the Falcons' drafting of Penix Jr. while having Cousins under contract. Furthermore, as Russini reported, it appears that Cousins possesses a degree of control over his destination and would need to approve any trade he is a part of.
The Steelers Would Need To Make A Large Financial Commitment For Cousins
Given Cousins' substantial contract, which places him among the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL, any team acquiring him would assume this significant financial obligation. This large existing contract would likely result in a lower asking price in terms of trade compensation, meaning a team would likely need to surrender less in assets to acquire him. However, as no trade proposals have been officially made, all of this remains purely speculative at this point.
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