The Steelers are still holding out that Aaron Rodgers will eventually come to Pittsburgh. In the meantime, Omar Khan has to have contingency plans just in case the four-time MVP decides to not sign with the team.
Among all other potential quarterback options, Kirk Cousins might be the most attractive. While the 36-year-old quarterback is coming off a down year in his first season with the Falcons, ultimately being benched in favor of 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr., Cousins still boasts a 97.4 career passer rating, including a mark of at least 103.1 or better in four of his last six seasons.
While the Falcons have yet to indicate Cousins is actually available via trade or that they would actually consider cutting him, the Steelers are given 3/2 odds by Sportsbetting.ag to land Cousins, the highest among 13 teams listed.
The Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed last season, but they've fully committed to Penix as their starter. That has thrust Cousins' name into trade rumors, but the contract makes moving him pretty difficult.
Any trade prior to June 1 would have made zero sense for the Falcons. They would have had to take on $37.5 million of dead cap, losing $35 million in cap space in the process. But now that we're beyond June 1, the Falcons would save $15 million in cap space this season, taking on dead cap hits of $12.5 million this season and $25 million next season.
Any team that would acquire Cousins would take on a $27.5 million cap hit in 2025, which is all guaranteed salary. Cousins would also carry cap hits of $45 million in each of the two following seasons, which includes bonuses of $10 million in both 2026 and 2027 should he remain on the roster by the fifth league day in each year.
However, only $10 million of Cousins' salary is guaranteed beyond 2025. So, the Steelers could acquire Cousins, pay him the $27.5 million in 2025, then cut him prior to the fifth league day next year and only take on $10 million of dead cap in 2026. There's no way to know what the Falcons would want in return, but the price can't be very high if there aren't a ton of suitors for Cousins.
The Steelers still prefer things to work out with Rodgers. That's who they want as their quarterback in 2025. However, the longer this saga continues, the more Khan has to work the phones to have a backup plan. We just don't quite know yet how serious the Steelers would pursue Cousins should they cut the cord on Rodgers.
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THE ASYLUM
Chris Halicke
5:48 pm - 06.02.2025South SideSteelers have best odds to land Cousins
The Steelers are still holding out that Aaron Rodgers will eventually come to Pittsburgh. In the meantime, Omar Khan has to have contingency plans just in case the four-time MVP decides to not sign with the team.
Among all other potential quarterback options, Kirk Cousins might be the most attractive. While the 36-year-old quarterback is coming off a down year in his first season with the Falcons, ultimately being benched in favor of 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr., Cousins still boasts a 97.4 career passer rating, including a mark of at least 103.1 or better in four of his last six seasons.
While the Falcons have yet to indicate Cousins is actually available via trade or that they would actually consider cutting him, the Steelers are given 3/2 odds by Sportsbetting.ag to land Cousins, the highest among 13 teams listed.
The Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed last season, but they've fully committed to Penix as their starter. That has thrust Cousins' name into trade rumors, but the contract makes moving him pretty difficult.
Any trade prior to June 1 would have made zero sense for the Falcons. They would have had to take on $37.5 million of dead cap, losing $35 million in cap space in the process. But now that we're beyond June 1, the Falcons would save $15 million in cap space this season, taking on dead cap hits of $12.5 million this season and $25 million next season.
Any team that would acquire Cousins would take on a $27.5 million cap hit in 2025, which is all guaranteed salary. Cousins would also carry cap hits of $45 million in each of the two following seasons, which includes bonuses of $10 million in both 2026 and 2027 should he remain on the roster by the fifth league day in each year.
However, only $10 million of Cousins' salary is guaranteed beyond 2025. So, the Steelers could acquire Cousins, pay him the $27.5 million in 2025, then cut him prior to the fifth league day next year and only take on $10 million of dead cap in 2026. There's no way to know what the Falcons would want in return, but the price can't be very high if there aren't a ton of suitors for Cousins.
The Steelers still prefer things to work out with Rodgers. That's who they want as their quarterback in 2025. However, the longer this saga continues, the more Khan has to work the phones to have a backup plan. We just don't quite know yet how serious the Steelers would pursue Cousins should they cut the cord on Rodgers.
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