The longer the Pittsburgh Steelers go without acquiring Aaron Rodgers, the less likely it seems that he’ll sign up for a farewell season. Even if he is the favorite to start in Week 1, or at least the top alternative, the Steelers must investigate other options under center.
The obvious pivot is Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins. Benched for first-round quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Cousins has been rendered a veteran mentor, even if he’s still a top-32 quarterback. As such, he’d be an upgrade in Western Pennsylvania.
However, things went poorly for Cousins in Atlanta. In his first season removed from an Achilles tear, Cousins’ lack of mobility hampered both phases of the offense. By the end of the season, his play became untenable, whether it be through a potential shoulder injury or the limits of his 36-year-old body.
Whatever the reason, Cousins’ arm didn’t hold up through the marathon of a season, and it’s his one key flaw that could prevent the Steelers from trading for him. Mike Renner elaborated on that concern for “Pushing the Pile.”
"I think this would be a terrible idea to give up any sort of draft capital to pay Kirk Cousins any sort of money whatsoever at this point in time," Renner said, as shared by Troy Montgomery of Steelers Depot. "He's 36. He'll be 37 in August. His arm was too weak for a dome."
Cousins kept the Falcons afloat in 2024, but eventually hit a wall. He threw one touchdown and nine interceptions in his final five starts, including a 15-9 win over the rudderless Las Vegas Raiders in which he threw for 112 yards.
Essentially, the Steelers would be banking on a late-30s resurgence for a quarterback with a now-checkered injury history. They’d be doing so with similar upside to Rodgers, which is admittedly probably not enough to make a deep playoff run.
"His arm is not strong enough to play in the [AFC North] … it's the most demanding arm-strength division in the NFL," Renner added about the Steelers possibly pursuing a trade for Cousins. "You have four northern outdoor stadiums in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Pittsburgh. Obviously, in Pittsburgh, where it's one of, if not the, most demanding in terms of arm-strength stadium in the NFL."
As Renner notes, playing in the AFC North only demands more from Cousins. Pittsburgh will play six outdoor games in cold climates after Halloween, many against physical defenses.
The Steelers’ actions this offseason suggest they are playing for the 2026 offseason, where quarterbacks should be plentiful and a path out of passing purgatory could present itself. If Pittsburgh is committed to that, wasting assets on Cousins makes even less sense.