Kirk Cousins has emerged as a potential alternative for the Pittsburgh Steelers if their long-winded pursuit of Aaron Rodgers eventually falls by the wayside, according to reports.
The Steelers are still waiting on Rodgers, 41, to decide his NFL future almost two months since he traveled to Pittsburgh to hold talks with head coach Mike Tomlin over a possible move.
It has been claimed that the four-time MVP quarterback is waiting for some ‘personal issues’ to be resolved before he signs with another team, having entered free agency following his New York Jets release back in March. He revealed earlier this week that unidentified people in his inner circle are currently battling cancer.
Yet while a move to Pittsburgh still appears likely for Rodgers, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is reporting that fellow veteran Cousins, 36, is a Plan B option for the Steelers.
The Atlanta Falcons quarterback is understood to be ‘at the very least’ on their radar amid the uncertainty surrounding Rodgers.
If the latter decides to retire, or Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan run out of patience with Aaron, Steelers officials could make a beeline for Kirk this offseason.
Kirk Cousins has emerged as an alternative quarterback option for the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are still waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make up his mind on his NFL future
Mike Tomlin needs a new quarterback this offseason, with Rodgers said to be his top target
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‘So Rodgers Plan A, Kirk Cousins could be a viable Plan B,’ Fowler said on SportsCenter, via The New York Post. ‘After making some calls today, I do believe he’s been on their radar.
‘If something were to fall through with Rodgers, certainly they could reconvene, call Atlanta, and see if they could shake something out. But right now, Rodgers is their guy.’
Should that scenario play out, the Steelers would of course have to negotiate a trade with the Falcons, who handed Cousins a huge four-year, $180m contract just over one year ago.
A string of underwhelming displays meant he eventually lost his starting place to rookie first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr, who is the unquestioned starter heading into 2025.
As a result Cousins, the most expensive backup quarterback in the NFL, is now on the hunt for a new landing spot.
Atlanta reportedly want teams interested in trading for him to take on at least $20m of his remaining $37.5m guaranteed, with the player set to be paid $1.52m per week during the next regular season.
Nevertheless, Cousins’ Falcons deal does include an out after the 2025 campaign, as the final two years are not guaranteed.
Cousins is available for a trade just one year after signing a $180m contract with the Falcons
A move to Pittsburgh still seems unlikely for him given Rodgers dropped his biggest Steelers hint yet earlier this week.
At a public event in Austin, Texas, the Super Bowl winner was asked by a young fan if there was any chance that he could sign for the Chicago Bears – a team that he had plenty of experience beating.
Rodgers slyly responded: ‘No, but I believe there’s a team that might play in Chicago this year… a road trip… I love Chicago, though, way more than they love me! It’s been a great relationship, all one way!’
A quick look at the NFL schedule shows that the Steelers will be on the road against the Bears in Week 12 of the season on November 23.
