Kirk Cousins landing spots: Steelers, Browns remain Falcons QB's best fits
The Atlanta Falcons are facing a unique conundrum of their own making at the quarterback position.
Last offseason, the team signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal to serve as their starting quarterback. However, they also spent the eighth overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft on Michael Penix Jr., hoping to groom him as an eventual successor to Cousins.
Cousins ended up having a down season by his standards in his first year in Atlanta. As a result, he was benched over the final three weeks of the season. Now, the Falcons are planning to move forward with Penix as their starter while also keeping Cousins in the fold.
Will being a backup be palatable for Cousins? The 36-year-old – who has a no-trade clause – hasn't yet demanded a trade, but he also did not attend Atlanta's first OTA sessions of the 2025 NFL offseason.
Prior to the 2025 NFL Draft, there hadn't been substantial trade talks involving Cousins, a person close to the situation told Paste BN Sports' Tyler Dragon. It isn't clear whether that will change if Cousins remains away from the team or if another NFL team gives Atlanta a "Godfather" offer for his services.
Where could Cousins potentially land if the Falcons decide to trade him? It may take a quarterback injury to create a dramatic, clear-cut landing spot for the veteran signal-caller. That said, there are a few teams that could be interested in his services.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are the obvious potential landing spot for Cousins. Pittsburgh continues to wait on Aaron Rodgers to make a decision about his future, but thus far, the 41-year-old quarterback hasn't committed to signing for the 2025 NFL season.
Should Rodgers spurn the Steelers at the altar, they will need to find a capable, veteran replacement to play ahead of Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Skylar Thompson. Cousins would be a plug-and-play fit and would be able to get the most out of the likes of DK Metcalf and Pat Freiermuth.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns targeting Cousins would be difficult, given the guaranteed money they have tied up in Deshaun Watson. That said, if Cleveland could find a way to get Cousins onto the roster, he would provide the team with a significant upgrade at the position.
Presently, Cleveland has four healthy quarterbacks on its roster: Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. There's little doubt Cousins would be a better veteran bridge to one of the younger quarterbacks than Flacco. The bigger question is about whether the Browns could get their finances in enough order to create the cap space needed to acquire Cousins.
New Orleans Saints
Let's get this out of the way: No, the Falcons aren't likely to trade a starting-caliber quarterback to their top rival. That said, the Saints have a need for a veteran at the position and Cousins profiles as a good fit for Kellen Moore's offense.
Derek Carr retired during the 2025 NFL offseason because of a shoulder injury, creating a gap at quarterback for the Saints. New Orleans plugged it by spending a second-round pick on Tyler Shough, but giving him and 2024 fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler a season or two to play behind Cousins could aid in their respective developments.
Minnesota Vikings
Cousins going back to the Vikings would be a longshot. However, on the off-chance the Vikings decide JJ McCarthy isn't ready to start as he returns from a meniscus tear that cost him his rookie season, Cousins would represent a plug-and-play veteran stopgap for the team. He is familiar with Kevin O'Connell's offense and would be an upgrade over backup Sam Howell.
Still, Cousins would probably have to be comfortable accepting a backup role to return to the Vikings. That makes this an unlikely reunion.
New York Jets
The Jets are similar to the Vikings in that they are invested in a young starting quarterback. That said, New York's commitment to Justin Fields is of a shorter variety, as the Jets signed him to a two-year, $40 million deal during the 2025 offseason.
While Fields will likely be New York's starter, Aaron Glenn may relish a chance to add Cousins, against whom he frequently coached during their NFC North days, to the Jets' quarterback room.