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ESPN insider: Falcons QB Kirk Cousins is 'on the Steelers' radar'
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- ESPN insider: Falcons QB Kirk Cousins is 'on the Steelers' radar'
The Atlanta Falcons still have veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins on the roster despite his hefty price tag for the 2025 NFL season. Since the team has no desire to release Cousins, a trade is the only realistic option for him to find a new home.
It takes two to tango, though, and the Falcons have been unable to find a trade partner thus far. Free agent Aaron Rodgers was expected to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers , but the former league MVP has taken his time weighing his options.
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With Rodgers waffling, the Steelers are examining other potential options, including Cousins. According to ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler , Cousins is being talked about as a backup plan in the event that Rodgers flakes out.
"I would say Kirk Cousins ," Fowler said when asked about possible Rodgers replacements in Pittsburgh. "I had some conversations with people this week that led me to believe that Cousins is at the very least on the Steelers' radar if something were to fall through on Rodgers."
Fowler explained the financial ramifications and potential roadblocks to a Steelers-Cousins marriage.
"Cousins has $37.5 million in guarantees between this year and next year. Somebody's on the hook for that, whether it's Atlanta or someone else. So to facilitate a trade, Atlanta would need a team to offset some of that money, whether it's $4 million, $20 million, whatever it is."
Fowler didn't sound optimistic about a deal coming together, but mostly due to the Falcons' unwillingness to take on a chunk of Cousins' salary.
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"But the feeling around the league is that Atlanta has not been willing to budge on this," continued Fowler. "They haven't shown a lot of interest in trading Cousins. It would take a hefty price tag for another team to wiggle that out."
If the Falcons are unable to get a deal done, Cousins is expected to return to Atlanta as Michael Penix Jr. 's backup. The 36-year-old has expressed his desire to play elsewhere, but Atlanta is rightfully prioritizing the team over Cousins' future.
Make sure to check out our post-draft position preview of the Falcons quarterback room for a full breakdown heading into the 2025 NFL season.
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This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: ESPN: Falcons QB Kirk Cousins on Pittsburgh Steelers' radar for 2025
