Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
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Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons looks on after the game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Since being released by the Atlanta Falcons, Kirk Cousins has yet to land with another team, despite NFL free agency beginning weeks ago.
Cousins, 37, was seen as one of the top free agent quarterbacks to hit the open market this cycle, yet all the major openings across the league were gobbled up by his competitors.
Kyler Murray landed with the Minnesota Vikings, a heavy favorite for Cousins, who would have gone back to his former team. Malik Willis signed with the Miami Dolphins. Meanwhile, Tua Tagovailoa took over Cousins’ former role with the Atlanta Falcons.
That doesn’t leave a lot of remaining options. Though, there is one — particularly a starting position — should Cousins and the team see a fit: the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Kirk Cousins’ Steelers Option Hinges on Aaron Rodgers Decision
Cousins landing with the Steelers boils down to one thing — whether or not Aaron Rodgers decides to return for another season.
According to new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, he and Rodgers talk often, yet there’s still no signal on a return. That leaves the door wide open for Cousins to come to Pittsburgh. And Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport believes Cousins could be a seamless transition from Rodgers last season.
“The Rodgers-led Steelers won 10 games and the AFC North last year,” Davenport wrote. “A Cousins-led Pittsburgh offense has the potential to duplicate that record.”
The Steelers made some much-needed offensive upgrades this offseason. They added Michael Pittman Jr. via trade from the Indianapolis Colts to pair alongside last year’s leading receiver DK Metcalf and signed running back Rico Dowdle after losing Kenneth Gainwell.
But would that truly be enough for Cousins to help the Steelers get back to the playoffs, earning at least 10 wins like Davenport believes?
Kirk Cousins’ Track Record With Falcons’, Others Tells Different Story
Remember, the Steelers struggled mightily with Aaron Rodgers last season. Even though that was without the recent additions and under previous head coach Mike Tomlin, there would still be uncertainty with Cousins leading the offense.
When Cousins signed with the Falcons, he was supposed to end their long playoff drought. Instead, he failed to do so and was eventually benched during his first season. His performances were underwhelming enough that head coach Raheem Morris didn’t even consider him the starter the following year.
Ultimately, Cousins went 12-10 as a starter in Atlanta — 7-7 in Year 1 and 5-3 in Year 2 after replacing Michael Penix Jr. when he went down with a season-ending knee injury. But it’s not just Atlanta where Cousins has struggled.
He has just two 10-win seasons as a starter in his career, both coming with the Minnesota Vikings. He went 10-5 in 2019 and 13-4 — his best season — in 2022. That’s a big reason why his playoff résumé is so thin, with just five games played, four starts and a 1-3 record.
So sure, Cousins could be a fallback option for the Steelers. But the idea that he can just walk in and lead them to a 10-win season isn’t as realistic as it sounds.
Just ask the Falcons.