The NFL’s quarterback carousel needs grease, slowing down dramatically ahead of the 2025 draft. Aaron Rodgers’ indecision about joining the Steelers has kept most chips in place for a while after the Giants signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston within a week.
A Kirk Cousins trade can reportedly shake things up.
Pittsburgh is a potential option for Cousins, as are the Browns and Vikings, according to the Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
As Russini notes, though, Minnesota isn’t much of an option at all. As has been the case for months and is likely the reason Rodgers hasn’t chosen a destination yet, Vikings head coach Kevin Connelly still strongly backs J.J. McCarthy.
“The Steelers, Browns and possibly Vikings could be involved in a trade involving Kirk Cousins, sources say,” Russini wrote.
“Minnesota is looked at as the least likely scenario, given their preference to favor J.J. McCarthy, and Cousins would need to sign off on any deal he's involved in. It’s believed that Cousins would be against any trade that involves sending him to a situation involving a young QB, similar to the situation he faced in Atlanta last year.”
A Cousins-Vikings reunion makes practically no sense. Not only did the franchise draft Michigan’s national championship-winning QB to become the locker room’s new leader, but Cousins’ massive contract extension only looks significantly worse now after a year of sub-par play, leading to being benched for Michael Penix Jr. on the Falcons.
Interestingly enough, the Browns are listed despite recently bringing Joe Flacco back. Flacco, if anything, is a low-priced version of what Cousins gives you. The ceiling isn’t dramatically higher with the latter than with the former.
Of these landing spots, the Steelers make the most sense. That’s only if Pittsburgh doesn’t draft Shedeur Sanders, though.