Kirk Cousins will be released by the Falcons tomorrow, ending his two-year run in Atlanta. That could lead to interest from a few QB-needy teams, including the Steelers. 
[RELATED: Steelers To Acquire, Extend WR Michael Pittman Jr.]
Pittsburgh’s quarterback plan for 2026 hinges once again on Aaron Rodgers. The future Hall of Famer is expected to arrive at a decision on his playing future sooner than he did last year, but at this point it remains to be seen if his career will continue. A second Pittsburgh campaign would be welcomed, but the team obviously needs to have contingencies in place as well.
Bringing in a different veteran passer could serve that purpose. SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora reports Cousins is “among the top options” the Steelers are considering as a fallback in the event Rodgers does not return. Pittsburgh also has backup Mason Rudolph in the fold, while La Canfora confirms the team remains high on the potential of 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard.
At least one more season with an experienced passer would buy time for Howard to continue developing. It could also provide the Steelers with a bridge to the 2027 draft, which is expected to provide teams with more options at the QB spot than April’s edition of the event. Cousins has not worked with new Pittsburgh head coach Mike McCarthy before, but he would be expected to ensure the team still has a high floor in the event of a short-term deal being worked out. Cousins, 37, is younger than Rodgers and is further removed from the Achilles tear which ended his productive 2023 campaign.
That season proved to be Cousins’ last in Minnesota, although a Vikings reunion has been floated as a possibility. Nevertheless, recent reporting – including today’s La Canfora update – has pointed to Kyler Murray as Minnesota’s top QB target. That could leave the Steelers in line to make a Cousins push depending on how things play out with respect to Rodgers’ future.
Oh god no
Cousins career numbers are basically the same as Ben’s. Ben just started earlier.
Cousins 174 starts is 2/3 of Ben’s 264
Cousins 45k yards is 2/3 of Ben’s 64k
Cousins 298 TDs are almost 3/4 of Ben’s 418
Cousins career RTG is 96.8 and Ben’s was 93.5 (Ben turned over ball more)
Ben played until 39, Cousins is 37
Is this a joke or rage bait? What they did at different times has no bearing on how he has performed last 3 seasons
2023 – 8 starts 2331 yards 69.5 comp% with 18 TD and 5 INT
2024 – 14 starts 3508 yards 66.9 comp% with 18 TD and 16 INT
2025 – 8 starts 1721 yards 61.7 comp% with 10 TD and 5 INT
This is the definition of decline of talent, he’s nothing more than a backup
Out with the old in with the old. While Kork is actually younger his game is very much the same now. This would be a status quo move and does not really elevate the team.
You’re correct. However, the money savings could elevate the team, if used properly. Being released, the Steelers could have Cousins on a league minimum deal. Rodgers is going to cost $10 million or thereabouts.
People love one last ride movies. Let’s just do Rodgers, Cousins and Flacco, on the Steelers–think of all the wisdom, the miscommunication, the comebacks, the injuries–and make money off the rights to a story decades in the making: Steel Here!
Again, reflective of the owner’s idea that somehow, this team is on the doorstep of another championship. It’s almost delusional. Fields, Wilson, Rodgers….and now this guy?
Steelers have an ownership issue with Rooney not realizing the reality at the qb position. Just let Howard start, if he sucks then they get a good pick in 2027 to go get a qb. No matter what trash free agent qb they sign, they will get knocked out in round 1 of the playoffs.
C6..I agree with you. But unfortunately art rooney 2 doesn’t belive in wasting a year. I belive this is why he hired McCarthy.
I agree 100%…with all 3 of you actually. I’ve said before that I want to see Howard start, but if McCarthy thinks he needs more time to develop, then I’m going to have to sit back and trust him. He’s always gotten good production from his qb’s and offenses as a whole. That said, if that’s his feeling, would you rather have Cousins on a league minimum deal or Rodgers for the $10 million or so?
In an ideal world neither. But id rather have cousins if that was the choice
Took a while to replace Bradshaw. Guess it’ll be the same for Roethlisberger….
No don’t go with another aging qb. Go with Howard or draft simpson
Or tank for Arch….
So many Steelers fans were tired of all floor and no ceiling. Now they might get Mike McCarthy and Kirk Cousins.
But also, Kirk Cousins hasn’t had an outdoor home field since he was in his 20s. Not excited to see what the current state of his arm looks like on a steady diet of challenging weather.
A trial balloon to see if Rodgers will sign now? McCarthy also may think he sees enough in Howard to think one more year of holding a clipboard will get him ready to start in ’27. Or McCarthy doesn’t like anyone in that room and wants a placeholder until ’27 …
AR hasn’t committed to the 2026 season yet, so can’t blame them for trying to get the best available, even though the best isn’t all that great. I’ve always seen their offensive problems as more of their coordinator’s problems the last few seasons. Arthur Smith was equally as bad as the others with his bubble screens and TE sets. Zero creativity or anything resembling a modern offense on that team.
Omar must really want to get himself fired…lol.
Cousins and Rodgers really both fit the Vikings more than the Steelers, I think, but Minnesota seems set on Murray for whatever reason.
That said, Steelers fans are going to be unhappy seemingly with any of the free agents this year, so I’d say to go with whomever is cheaper. If it’s Rodgers, I definitely expect a better offense than what they put forth last year. Cousins probably offers the same.
The only question for me is whether the Steelers retain Howard as a “developmental” QB behind the starter, presumably with a shot next year, or whether they just cut bait and pick a QB high in next year’s draft. I think that this year’s Steelers will already be better than last year’s, despite all of the negativity from the fanbase. Will the rest of the AFC North also disappoint as much they did before? That could also determine some of those W-L totals next year, too…
Not sharing your optimism on the Steelers. They’ll need to draft some offensive playmakers and find a QB to give them the ball. Without Tomlin, they likely won’t be pulling a rabbit out of hat with late game heroics, which they’ve had here and there for the past few seasons.
Vikings OL was pretty bad last year, and unless they can keep AR or Cousins upright, neither would be a good fit as they aren’t mobile and will get clobbered like Wentz and JJ did. Ravens should still win that division, and if Bengals can get any D they can compete. Steelers and Browns will be fighting for #3 I predict.
Let me clarify-I didn’t say that I expect the Steelers to be good, I just expect the offense to be better. That said, you have a point about Tomlin. For all of the extreme hate that he got, his teams were very good in close games. Anybody who doesn’t think should check his extensive record over the years. The Steelers definitely lose that element at least with any coach.
Tomlin had them practicing all week in full pads from what I remember. No Friday walkthroughs. They always played hard for 4Qs and were disciplined. No locker room drama. That’s the baseline you want from any HC, let’s see if McCarty can duplicate it.
Outside of jets who else would sign him? Spots are filling up quickly
Package this year’s 2nd rounder and one of the comp picks and trade for Mac Jones. They have already filled the WR spot with the Pittman trade and upgraded at CB with the Dean signing plus they will still have 10 picks left.
I’ve been saying the same thing. Give a 3re pick for Jones. Some qbs take a couple of years to mature. Look at darnold. Jones could be the next darnold
Minnesota wouldn’t take Cousins back for free.