ESPN's Stephen A. Smith was left stunned after Mike Tannenbaum suggested the New York Jets should look to pursue quarterback Kirk Cousins this offseason
06:24 ET, 16 Feb 2026
Stephen A. Smith was left stunned by the suggestion Kirk Cousins could end up with the New York Jets
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Stephen A. Smith was left stunned by the suggestion Kirk Cousins could end up with the New York Jets(Image: YouTube/ESPN)
Stephen A. Smith has rubbished any suggestion that the New York Jets should look to acquire Kirk Cousins this offseason to fix their quarterback woes.
Entering the 2026 offseason, the Jets once again find themselves searching for a quarterback following a disappointing 2025 campaign that saw them start Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook. They also had to watch their former starter, Sam Darnold, who they drafted third overall in 2018, help the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl.
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While New York holds the second overall pick in the NFL Draft, the 2026 quarterback class, outside of Fernando Mendoza, is not a strong one. Mendoza will likely go first overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, with it unlikely New York would pull the trigger on a prospect like Alabama's Ty Simpson at two after Dante Moore opted to return to Oregon for 2026.
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Instead, it looks as though New York will add a veteran quarterback who could serve as a bridge starter in 2026, with the Jets then able to draft a quarterback next year in what looks to be a loaded class, including Texas' Arch Manning.
One of the veterans who will be available this offseason is Kirk Cousins, who nearly signed for the Jets during free agency in 2018, only to then opt to join the Minnesota Vikings.
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Kirk Cousins is expected to be a free agent later in the offseason
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Kirk Cousins is expected to be a free agent later in the offseason (Image: X @NFLonCBS)
Despite having signed a huge four-year $180 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024, Cousins is expected to be a free agent after having restructured his contract before the new league year begins next month.
Speaking on ESPN's First Take, former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said that New York should look to bring in Kirk Cousins to operate their offense under new offensive coordinator Frank Reich. "Believe it or not, the place where I think he makes a lot of sense is the New York Jets," Tannenbaum said.
"Let me tell you why. If I'm a quarterback, the first thing I think about is can I be protected? Olu Fashanu on one side, Armand Membou on the other Joe Tippmann at center, I know I have good protection. Then, I keep Breece Hall. I sign him or I tag him. With Garrett Wilson and Mason Taylor, that's a really solid group of young skill players."
However, never one to shy away from giving his opinion, Smith then branded Tannenbaum's suggestion as "insane," claiming Cousins' past injuries and benching in Atlanta for Michael Penix Jr. mean New York should look elsewhere.
Cousins lost his starting spot to Michael Penix Jr. in Atlanta
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Cousins lost his starting spot to Michael Penix Jr. in Atlanta(Image: Getty Images)
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"Kirk Cousins on that turf in East Rutherford, New Jersey? Have you lost your mind? Kirk Cousins in New York, in that market? Are you insane?" said Smith.
He continued: "I mean, he barely — listen, you saw what happened with him in Atlanta. You saw what happened to him when he got benched. I mean, you remember when he used to — you like that? You like that? He ain’t said that in a long time.
"He ain’t said that in a long time because he hasn’t had a reason to. OK, let’s get that out the way. You want to hear about Kirk Cousins in New York City, the media capital of the world, with some of the mistakes that he’s made and the injury issues that he’s had as well? Oh no, you don’t want that."