Rod Woodson Wants Steelers to Land Kirk Cousins

The Pittsburgh Steelers seem content moving forward with Kenny Pickett as the guy with some competition heading into the 2024 season. For one, team president Art Rooney II does not see the team making some blockbuster move to land a quarterback, specifically via trade, which likely means good news for Pickett.

“The question I was asked was would I consider anything like that, and I know, as we sit here today, we don’t want to close the door on anything, but I’d probably put it in the unlikely category,” Rooney said to Andrew Stockey of WTAE. “Look, we like to look at any opportunity we think can make us better, so that’s why I don’t close the door on anything. But I don’t want to create a lot of speculation out there that we’re going out to make some blockbuster trade at the QB spot. I don’t. I’d put it in the unlikely category.”

But that does not mean everyone sees it the same way. In fact, former Steelers cornerback Rod Woodson believes the team should go out and upgrade. He does not see the starting quarterback that can bring them significant wins on the roster, and suggested that the team land Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.

“I just don’t know that the quarterback of the future is there. I just don’t know,” Woodson said on the Rich Eisen Show. “…I think it’d be a really good idea if you get Kirk Cousins, who’s been there, who’s done it, he’s an older guy. He knows how to play, how to distribute the football, he can throw the football down the field.”

The Steelers have committed to giving Pickett another shot as the team’s starting quarterback, but Rooney did say that they need Pickett to perform at a higher level in 2024.

“The next step, number one, would look like more points, week in and week out,” Rooney said. “Just being a more effective offense, continuing to do some of the things we were able to do this year in terms of ball control, being able to run effectively, but then add on top of that, scoring more touchdowns.”

Cousins seems like the highest guy that the team could theoretically land. He is a multiple-time Pro Bowler and played some of his best football in 2023 before suffering an Achilles tear. But that major injury at 36 years old is significant. Still, the sentiment that the Steelers do not have the guy under center is growing outside of the organization, but they still believe they have the guy for the job, and want to see Pickett take the steps forward to prove he can be that guy.