Realistic Trade Packages Falcons Should Consider for Kirk Cousins

With the start of the 2025 NFL draft just two days away, the league’s quarterback carousel is slowing. Most teams have either added a veteran or appear likely to target a signal-caller early in the 2025 draft.

However, there are a few veteran quarterbacks potentially still available, including Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons.

After signing a four-year, $180 million contact with the Falcons last year, Cousins suffered through an injury-marred mess of a year. With second-year pro Michael Penix Jr., entrenched as the starter under center in Atlanta, the Falcons have reportedly been shopping the 36-year-old Cousins.

But as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported, there are problems that go well beyond Cousins’ no-trade clause.

“Atlanta has asked for any acquiring team to pay $20 million of the $37.5 million worth of guarantees left on Cousins' contract,” Schefter wrote. “To date, no has been willing to do that, and no team is expected to be willing to. But what happens this weekend—and which franchises come out of the draft with or without rookie quarterbacks—could influence how much guaranteed money a team might be willing to absorb on Cousins' contract.”

If the Falcons truly do want to move Cousins, they have to get real, both in regard to draft pick compensation and how much of his salary teams will take on. While the number of potential suitors has shrunk after the bulk of free agency, a few teams could still be trade partners.

We've highlighted the most logical ones here, along with potential trade packages from each.

New Orleans Saints

AP

Falcons Get: 2025 fourth-round pick (No. 131), 2026 sixth-round pick

Saints get: QB Kirk Cousins; 2025 seventh-round pick (No. 218)

No team in the NFC has a shakier quarterback situation than the New Orleans Saints. The team and Derek Carr appear to be headed for a messy divorce after reports leaked that the 34-year-old may need season-ending shoulder surgery.

Since that news broke, the Saints have been linked in quite a few mock drafts to Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. But in the opinion of Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports, Cousins could serve as a fallback option.

“It's unlikely the Falcons would trade Cousins to a division rival,” he wrote, “but then again, is it? Atlanta didn't value Cousins enough to keep him in the lineup for even one full season of his $180 million contract, so if the team can squeeze anything of value out of an NFC South foe for a damaged asset, why not?

"Still, this would make more sense if Cousins is outright released. New coach Kellen Moore needs something under center with Derek Carr going from disgruntled to curiously injured, and Cousins is the kind of proven play-action veteran who could hold down the fort while the Saints get things in order for the future. As a bonus, he'd probably relish games against the Falcons.”

The Saints have over $27 million in cap space and as glaring of a need under center as any team in the league. The fourth-rounder included in this trade is the best pick the Falcons can reasonably expect to get in a Cousins trade.

Intra-division trades may be rare, but they aren’t unheard of.

Pittsburgh Steelers

FR171784 AP

Falcons Get: 2025 fifth-round pick (No. 156), 2026 seventh-round pick

Steelers get: QB Kirk Cousins

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a rough offseason at quarterback. Both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson left the team in free agency. Aaron Rodgers has been repeatedly connected to the Steelers, but until he finishes consulting with the Oracle of Delphi or whatever the heck he’s doing, there’s no telling if he’ll play in 2025.

The Steelers have also been linked to a number of rookie quarterbacks with the 21st overall pick. But they could get frozen out at the position or want a stopgap option until that rookie is ready to take the reins.

While appearing on the The Rich Eisen Show, Steelers insider Gerry Dulac said Pittsburgh could view Cousins as a fallback option.

"They are not going to go into the season with Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson (who'll have a hard time making the team anyhow) and a rookie quarterback," Dulac said. "Aaron Rodgers or no Aaron Rodgers, a veteran quarterback will be added somewhere.

"I will tell you that [Cousins] is a part of the thought process. The question would be: How much would the Falcons try to hold up the Steelers for Kirk Cousins? A 36-, 37-year-old guy, the Steelers are certainly not going to invest a lot in terms of maybe draft capital to get Kirk Cousins. But that would be a possibility. I think it would be somewhere between possible and slim."

The Steelers haven’t had a losing season since 2003. They fashion themselves as a perennial contender.

Depending on how things shake out in the draft, Cousins could wind up being the best shot Pittsburgh has of avoiding an end to that streak of non-losing campaigns.

Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

Falcons Get: 2026 fifth-round pick; 2027 sixth-round pick

Vikings get: QB Kirk Cousins, 2026 seventh-round pick

Who says you can’t go home again?

Last offseason, the Minnesota Vikings let Cousins walk after six seasons and 88 starts with the team. But with Sam Darnold now in Seattle and second-year pro J.J. McCarthy coming off a major knee injury, there has been some speculation that Minnesota might consider a reunion with Cousins.

The biggest sticking point, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, is the same as with all the teams on this list—draft pick compensation and how much of Cousins’ remaining guarantees Minnesota might be willing to pick up.

“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."

Sure, it could be awkward to see Cousins return to the Twin Cities. And it’s not known if the Vikes might view Cousins as a mentor to McCarthy or legitimate competition to start.

But the Vikings view themselves as contenders after winning 14 games last year. Entering the 2025 season with a completely unproven quarterback and no Plan B behind him is a risk.

Cleveland Browns

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Falcons Get: 2025 sixth-round pick (No. 179); 2025 sixth-round pick (No. 192)

Browns Get: QB Kirk Cousins

At one time, the Cleveland Browns appeared to be the likeliest destination for Cousins in a trade. But after they traded for Kenny Pickett and signed Joe Flacco, the quarterback room in Cleveland has become more crowded.

However, the sad state of that quarterback room could still leave Cousins in the mix if the Browns fail to add a quarterback early in the draft.

“Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski's familiarity with Cousins from their time together in Minnesota (where Stefanski served as offensive coordinator) informs the pairing,” Kevin Patra wrote for NFL.com. “The coach knows where Cousins thrives and doesn't. And the veteran quarterback can play game manager for a team built to rely on its defense and not turn the ball over while making an occasional splash play. Health is a major factor, but if Stefanski is comfortable with Cousins' mobility, it's worth bringing him on as a short-term stopgap.”

With $19.2 million in cap space, the Browns aren’t especially well-equipped to take on Cousins’ salary. A pair of sixth-round picks probably wouldn't make Falcons do cartwheels. And Cousins would have to waive his no-trade clause.

But once the Falcons get past the 2025 draft, they'll either have to get realistic about what they can get for Cousins or be prepared to just keep him.

While the Browns already have healthy two quarterbacks on their roster (along with Deshaun Watson), neither is guaranteed to be even a so-so starter this season.