Aaron Rodgers Kirk Cousins
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NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah stated he would take Kirk Cousins over Aaron Rodgers this offseason.
It appears rather clear the Pittsburgh Steelers plan to wait for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision on the 2026 NFL season. If Rodgers elects not to return to Pittsburgh, then pundits and fans will see the team’s Plan B behind center.
But because Rodgers is dragging out his decision again, analysts have plenty of time to share what they think the Steelers should do at quarterback.
NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah weighed in on Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation while appearing on “The Football America” Podcast on Friday. Jeremiah argued the signs indicate the Steelers will sign a different veteran quarterback if Rodgers doesn’t return.
Jeremiah called 4-time Pro Bowler Kirk Cousins the best choice.
“Where the roster is now … that points me towards Kirk Cousins as the best option there, and I think you can get a nice, little two-year window,” Jeremiah said, via Steelers Depot’s Josh Carney. Because when you bring back T.J. Watt, when you bring back [Cam] Heyward, that’s not … ‘Hey guys, we’re going to fool around and see if we can experiment with this JJ McCarthy thing, see if this hits for us here.’
“Once you’ve made that decision to kind of run with those guys … this feels like this is kind of a decision for the last of this ride of this group, and then we’ll go on and try to find the next one.”
Jeremiah’s argument was similar to what other pundits have argued with Cousins and the Steelers. But the NFL draft analyst concluded by going a step further.
“I would take Kirk Cousins over Aaron Rodgers.”
Cousins led the Atlanta Falcons to a 5-3 record while playing for an injured Michael Penix Jr. last season. He completed 61.7% of his throws for 6.4 yards per pass. He also had 10 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Rodgers was 10-6 as a starter during 2025. He threw 24 touchdowns versus seven interceptions while averaging 6.7 yards per pass.
But Rodgers will turn 43 years old during the 2026 season.