Cousins is coming off a season where he failed to live up to his $180 million contract, as he was benched for rookie Michael Penix Jr. Cousins led the league in interceptions while only playing 14 games, in what was a season coming off a torn Achilles injury.
For months, Cousins was linked to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but after the Aaron Rodgers signing, they were pretty much out of the picture. The only teams that could be somewhat in play are the Vikings and the Browns for different reasons.
Kirk Cousins (middle) warms up prior to an Atlanta Falcons home game during the 2024 season
Kirk Cousins (middle) warms up prior to an Atlanta Falcons home game during the 2024 season
© Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
The Vikings are currently the best fit, as they have J.J. McCarthy and Sam Howell on the roster and could look to bring back Cousins as a veteran leader and potential starter. McCarthy missed his whole rookie season with a torn meniscus, and after Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks, McCarthy is now currently the starter.
The other fit would be the Browns, but that one is a bit more complicated. They currently have four healthy quarterbacks, with none of them being the set week 1 starter. Cousins has been linked to Cleveland since before the draft, but after taking Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, there has been less movement to obtain Cousins.
Outside of these two teams, the market seems very dry for Cousins. Many teams have their quarterback and do not want to take on a big contract for a potential backup. A trade would all depend on how the Falcons and another team negotiate paying the salary.
As the offseason continues, the market could open up more if teams get desperate for a quarterback and Cousins will be the first name to pop up. This will continue to develop as the season inches closer.