The Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly could consider trading for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins if first-choice target Aaron Rodgers either signs with the Minnesota Vikings or decides to remain available through the summer months.
During Monday's edition of the "Pro Football Talk Live" program, NFL analyst Chris Simms of NBC Sports warned the Steelers about viewing Cousins as their "break-the-glass" backup plan in the event that they miss out on Rodgers.
"It is risky," Simms said about trading for Cousins, as shared by Troy Montgomery of Steelers Depot. "One, you're gonna have to give assets away and trade. ...They're gonna do that with a guy that we all know did not physically look the same last year. The ball fluttered in the air. He was benched for a rookie in the middle of a playoff run. This is rare stuff. His arm looked weak, and he threw wobblers that hung up in the air for a good part of the year."
Cousins suffered a torn Achilles in October 2023 while with the Minnesota Vikings, but the Falcons felt good enough about his recovery that they gave him a four-year, $180M contract that included $100M guaranteed in March 2024. He subsequently helped Atlanta win six of its first nine games, but he then looked "out of gas" and had a "dead" arm as he dealt with injury setbacks.
Specifically, Cousins tossed eight interceptions and no touchdown passes over four consecutive defeats before the Falcons earned an unimpressive 15-9 Week 15 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Following that game, Atlanta turned to 2024 first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr. in an attempt to save the club's playoff hopes.
Some within the Falcons reportedly believe that being "another year removed from the Achilles" will help Cousins recover the arm strength he had in the fall of 2023. Additionally, the Falcons seem prepared to hold onto Cousins through at least the 2025 NFL Draft that gets underway on April 24 unless a team such as the Steelers sends Atlanta an asset for the 36-year-old's services.
Meanwhile, the Vikings continue to publicly give Rodgers some hope they could reach out to him if 2024 first-round draft choice J.J. McCarthy looks shaky in springtime workouts coming off the full meniscus repair that cost him his rookie season. Unless Rodgers decides he's all-in on featuring for the Steelers as soon as this week, these sagas could drag on through May and maybe even June.
