We’ll never know for sure if the Pittsburgh Steelers would’ve pivoted to Kirk Cousins. Or if Cousins would’ve accepted a contract offer from Pittsburgh. But Tom Pelissero believes Cousins was firmly on Pittsburgh’s radar as Plan B if Aaron Rodgers opted against a 2026 return and reunion with Mike McCarthy.
“Kirk Cousins was on the Steelers’ radar, just like he was on the Steelers’ radar a year ago,” Pelissero said during a Thursday interview with Rich Eisen.
Pelissero repeated a story he recently shared of Pittsburgh calling the Atlanta Falcons about Cousins’ availability last offseason while the team waited for Rodgers to give an answer. Even with Mike McCarthy replacing Mike Tomlin, the organization’s interest in Cousins apparently held firm.
Thursday, Cousins signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. It’s a complicated contract that on paper is a five-year deal, but effectively serves as a one-year, $20 million fully guaranteed pact. Would Pittsburgh have offered the same structure? Would Cousins have taken it?
Comp update: Kirk Cousins will sign a five-year, $172 million deal with the Raiders that in reality is a one-year, fully-guaranteed $20 million deal that also contains a club option for two years at $80M.
The Falcons will pay Cousins $8.7 million this season, the Raiders another… pic.twitter.com/MHYqOOfBs7
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 2, 2026
The Raiders are poised to select Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall later this month, but new head coach Klint Kubiak hinted he prefers rookies to sit and learn on the bench. If so, that will offer Cousins a clear runway to the starting job, as reflected in his large amount of guaranteed money. Turning 38 in August, Cousins is less concerned about a long-term role but rather maximizing his remaining years and starting Week 1 after beginning 2025 as Michael Penix Jr.’s backup.
“This time around, if Rodgers didn’t come back, my understanding has been that Cousins was one of the possibilities that they could go out and pursue,” Pelissero said.
If Cousins was Plan B, it’s hard to know who takes his place. Russell Wilson, Jimmy Garoppolo and Tyrod Taylor are among the best and most experienced players on the market. Wilson won’t return after a one-year stint in 2024. Garoppolo is likely to return to the Los Angeles Rams as Matthew Stafford’s backup and Taylor’s career is close to its sunset.
The best connection might be Cooper Rush, coached by McCarthy with the Dallas Cowboys. But he’s hardly a starter option and arguably not even an upgrade over Mason Rudolph, let alone worth blocking Will Howard.
Pittsburgh’s Plan B is likely what the team has – Rudolph and Howard. Toss in a mid-round draft pick and UDFA, and it would make for one of the worst quarterback rooms in football – at least on paper. It’s one reason why the team has been exceedingly patient with Rodgers and his decision. For 2026, he is the team’s best option, and the franchise recognizes there’s no other veteran to turn to.
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