Should Steelers Trade for Kirk Cousins?
The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of two teams who do not have a quarterback signed for the 2025 season. All three current signal callers–Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kyle Allen–are set to be free agents by the beginning of the new league year.
Wilson revealed after Saturday night’s Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens that he wants to be back but he will leave it in God’s hands.
The Steelers lost the final five games of the season (including playoffs), and Wilson’s subpar play was a big factor. Wilson ranked 30th out of 31 qualified quarterbacks in EPA per drop back over the last five weeks of the regular season. He threw for 217 yards or fewer in each of the final five regular season games.
With Wilson’s deep decline down the stretch, the quarterback position is very uncertain heading into the offseason. Do they run it back with Wilson? Do they give Fields another chance? Could they kick the tires on future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers?
The Steelers have a few options, but it appears that drafting a quarterback in the first round won’t be it. This year’s class is considered pretty weak and they’re picking at 21st overall.
Another option could be trading for veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report floated a trade proposal that has the Steelers trading a fourth-round pick and outside linebacker Preston Smith to Atlanta in exchange for Cousins.
“With a veteran-laden roster, Pittsburgh may favor a highly experienced signal-caller. Cousins would certainly fit that criterion with 159 career starts. If the 36-year-old avoids turnovers, he can help the Steelers win games, complementing a stout defense,” Moton wrote.
Cousins, who turns 37 in August, completed 66.9% of his passes for 3,508 yards with 18 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, and a passer rating of 88.6 in 14 games with the Falcons in 2024. Not really spectacular numbers.
Trading for Cousins won’t solve the Steelers quarterback problem, but he could be a bridge quarterback until 2026. The Steelers would be better off riding with Fields for a year, instead of getting another aging quarterback.
Cousins really doesn’t move the needle. He’ll just be another version of Russell Wilson.
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