Hope is a dangerous word. Sometimes, it can push you to achieve the unattainable. But, other times, it can also disillusion your mind toward the implausible. Kirk Cousins finds himself in somewhat of a similar situation. Ever since he penned a four-year, $180 million deal (with $100 million guaranteed) with the Atlanta Falcons last offseason, mutual dissatisfaction has run amok. Internal tensions started when the team drafted Michael Penix Jr—primarily to ensure a long-term QB solution—just a month after Cousins’s hiring. The latter’s performances didn’t help his case either.

On the back of 18 touchdowns, and a league-leading 16 interceptions in 14 starts, no team can trust you enough to be a starter. But, looks like, that’s exactly what the veteran has set his mind to. As per reports, despite a glaring no-trade clause, the signal-caller is reportedly ready to waive that if he gets an opportunity to be a starter with some other team. But, time is running out, and so are options. Unfortunately, Cousins finds himself in a situation where he’ll need to depend more on luck, and…

Well, Aaron Rodgers. While Mike Tomlin and Art Rooney await the former Giants’ QB with longing eyes, and a hopeful heart, the latter has evidently not reached a concrete decision yet. And this is exactly where the unhappy Falcon comes into play. NFL insider Adam Schefter painted a vivid picture of what’s to come. What if Rodgers decides he doesn’t want to join the Steelers? “This would be in the eyes of people across the league, the backup plan in Pittsburgh, if Aaron Rodgers decided not to come back to the Steelers. Because then Kirk Cousins would be a veteran quarterback that would have some appeal and draw some interest from some teams,” he said before adding:

“Right now we saw all these teams fill their quarterback needs. We saw the Cleveland Browns, who really couldn’t have afforded to trade for Kirk Cousins anyway, draft two quarterbacks: Shedeur Sanders and Dillion Gabriel. We saw the Minnesota Vikings trade with Seattle for quarterback Sam Howell. Really, the only team right now that has a pressing quarterback need is the Pittsburgh Steelers…”

“And the Pittsburgh Steelers are waiting for Aaron Rodgers. But if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t come through and decides he doesn’t want to play, then I would think, Kirk Cousins would figure to be on the Steelers’ list of potential replacements. And if Aaron Rodgers goes to Pittsburgh, what that would mean to Kirk Cousins would be, he might have to wait for another team to suffer some type of setback at the quarterback position, an injury…Because right now there’s a real possibility he could be going to camp with the Falcons.”

If we look at the Steelers’ divisional rivals, the Cleveland Browns, the team has overtaken Mike Tomlin’s franchise in terms of QB situation. The Steelers are still waiting for their starting quarterback while the Browns have booked Sanders, Gabriel, Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, and Kenny Pickett. So, they are in a better position to solve any QB-related problem mid-season if the franchise wants. 

Getting back to the Steelers, the team would be waiting for Rodgers till the training camp starts. As for Kirk Cousins, he is looking for a landing spot, but there is no single spot.

Kirk Cousins in Aaron Rodgers’ shadow

“If Aaron Rodgers decided not to come back to the Steelers because then Kirk Cousins would be a veteran quarterback, that would have some appeal and draw some interest from some teams.” This is what Adam Schefter said when asked about Kirk Cousins’ future. And he gave an answer while pointing out a major issue for Cousins. 

As we know, the Steelers are looking for Aaron Rodgers to shoulder the 2025 season at least. But if you look at the remaining 4th QB position, Kirk Cousins could fit there. But his life in Steel City will be dependent on Rodgers’ decision. The Falcons‘ QB wants to move on from the city, but the main problem is his staggering paycheck. The 36-year-old QB will be having a $27,500,000 base salary in 2025 and a combined $70,000,000 for two years after 2025. So, the question is, who’s gonna bear that amount? 

At the moment, there appears to be only one viable destination for Kirk Cousins, and that’s the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, as we’ve discussed before, the final outcome hinges heavily on what Rodgers decides to do.

If Rodgers ends up in the Steel City, it would effectively shut the door on Cousins’ potential move there. On the other hand, if Rodgers opts for a different team or chooses not to return at all, it could pave the way for Cousins to don the black and gold. All eyes are now on the veteran as his decision looms large over the future of both quarterbacks and the Steelers’ offseason plans.