Aaron Rodgers still hasn’t made his decision. That means the Pittsburgh Steelers are still without a starting quarterback. If Rodgers chooses to go elsewhere, the Steelers won’t have many other options for a quality starter under center. They could turn back to Russell Wilson, although that doesn’t seem very likely. Could the Steelers trade for Kirk Cousins from the Atlanta Falcons? It doesn’t seem like Cousins is going to start in Atlanta. CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones believes the Falcons will eventually move Cousins.
“They’re gonna hang on to him in the hopes that someone will want to trade for him,” Jones said Friday on CBS Sports HQ. “That could happen next week, that could be the week after. That could be after the draft.
“I do not at all believe that Kirk Cousins will be on the Atlanta Falcons roster come Week 1, and maybe not even at the start of training camp. But they do want a draft pick for him, and I believe that, ultimately, they’ll be able to get one for him.”
That’s quite the prediction from Jones. Up to this point, it’s seemed like the Falcons were going to keep Cousins on as their backup. It sounds like the veteran quarterback wants to start, though. He could have that opportunity in Pittsburgh.
Cousins is currently signed to a massive deal, which might be the biggest roadblock to trading him. He used to be a solid starter, but he doesn’t look the same since coming back from a torn Achilles in 2023. He’ll also be 37 when the 2025 season starts. There’s no guarantee Cousins can still be a quality starter.
However, he does seem better than most of the other quarterbacks on the market. The Steelers won games with Wilson last year, and Cousins could at least give them similar production. They probably wouldn’t have to give up a very high draft pick, either.
If the Steelers can’t sign Wilson or Rodgers, Cousins could be their next best option. However, it sounds like the Falcons are willing to be patient in dealing him. The Rodgers situation has only gone on for a few days, and many fans are already sick of that. The Steelers probably shouldn’t wait on Cousins if the Falcons are willing to drag that ordeal out.
There are certainly worse options for the Steelers than Cousins. If the Falcons are willing to absorb much of his salary, it could be a good trade. It might take some patience, but the Steelers have shown they’re willing to wait for Rodgers. Maybe the same could be said about Cousins.
