The Pittsburgh Steelers remain in limbo when it comes to 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers with the legal tampering window open ahead of the start of the new league year.
Rodgers says he doesn’t have a contract offer, nor a deadline to make a decision on his future. The Steelers have said they don’t expect the situation with Rodgers to drag out like last season, either. So, something has to give.
Either Rodgers knows what the contract offer will be and just needs to decide if he’s playing in 2026 or not. Or the Steelers are prepared to move on and get younger at the position.
For NFL insider Jason La Canfora, the Steelers have a backup plan in case Rodgers doesn’t return.
That would be 38-year-old Kirk Cousins.
“Former Vikings playoff quarterback Kirk Cousins is among the top options for Pittsburgh if Rodgers is not back, according to league sources, while the team is legitimately high on the upside of second-year quarterback Will Howard as well,” La Canfora writes of the Steelers’ plans.
Cousins is a name that has been speculated about regarding a potential fit with the Steelers under Mike McCarthy. The veteran quarterback hasn’t been officially released yet by the Atlanta Falcons, but the franchise announced two weeks ago that it will be cutting Cousins loose at the start of the new league year on March 11.
The Falcons have already moved on at quarterback, agreeing with Tua Tagovailoa on Monday on a one-year, veteran minimum deal.
Cousins should sign for a veteran minimum contract himself wherever he next lands, making him an attractive option at the most important position in sports.
Last season after stepping in for the injured Michael Penix Jr., Cousins went 5-3 for the Falcons late in the season, completing just under 62% of his passes for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. He appeared in 10 total games for the Falcons, and his best performance was a 373-yard, 3-touchdown game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a thrilling 29-28 win in Week 15.
He’s on the older side and doesn’t move all that well, but Cousins could be a fit for McCarthy’s West Coast-style offense.
“Cousins can still excel throwing the deep ball, however, and has been a stalwart in play action under center in his career, a staple for Pittsburgh offenses and something that would mesh well with new coach Mike McCarthy’s offense,” La Canfora writes.
Though McCarthy stated that he likes a quarterback who can move around and create out of structure, which certainly isn’t Cousins, the veteran plays with good timing and footwork. He can also thrive off play-action. Last season on play-action passes, Cousins completely nearly 70% of his throws for 606 yards and a touchdown, according to Pro Football Focus.
If Rodgers doesn’t return, Cousins could serve as a strong mentor for second-year pro Will Howard. The Steelers have raved about Howard all offseason, from GM Omar Khan to McCarthy. There is seemingly legitimate belief in Howard in the Steelers’ facility.
Even Rodgers spoke highly of Howard during his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show last week. So, while a veteran starter is needed to help lead the way in 2026, the goal still seems to be to help Howard in his development.
Maybe that veteran mentor is Kirk Cousins if Rodgers doesn’t return.
Recommended for you