Adam Schefter Names 2 Surprise Teams That Could Enter Kirk Cousins Sweepstakes

It has been widely expected that the Atlanta Falcons will move on from veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins at some point this offseason. With the 2025 NFL draft under 48 hours away, he still remains on the roster.

Looking around the NFL, there are still some teams in need of quarterback depth and a couple who could use a new starter.

Cousins still has a market and a move could be close. There is a chance the Falcons could wait until after the draft to move him, but a trade during the draft seems quite plausible as well.

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter has revealed the two teams who could pursue a trade with Atlanta to bring Cousins onboard. Those two teams are the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers.

"There is a feeling around the league that a team, whether it is the Vikings or Steelers, might be willing to pay down roughly $10 million," he wrote. "How much any team would be willing to pay also would influence the compensation it gives up. The higher the payment, the lower the draft compensation; the lower the payment, the higher the draft compensation. The Falcons and Cousins, who has a no-trade clause, recognize their future is not together, and how it will play out could very well be influenced by this draft."

With the Vikings, he would be returning to a place that he called home for six years. He would be brought in to be a veteran backup presence behind J.J. McCarthy.

As for a trade to the Steelers, he would have a good shot of being the team's starter. Aaron Rodgers has yet to sign and Pittsburgh needs a better option than Mason Rudolph.

During the 2024 season with the Falcons, Cousins completed 66.9% of his passes for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions in 14 games. The turnovers are concerning, but he was coming off of a torn Achilles suffered during the 2023 campaign.

Even at 36 years old, Cousins would be well worth a long look from either Minnesota or Pittsburgh to fill their respective quarterback needs.