Kirk Cousins Reportedly Linked to Vikings, Steelers as Trade Landing Spots amid Rumors

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is reportedly drawing trade interest from multiple teams, one of which is very familiar with him.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported that "the [Cleveland] Browns, [Pittsburgh] Steelers and possibly [Minnesota] Vikings could be involved in a Cousins trade." Cousins spent six seasons with the Vikings before signing with the Falcons last offseason.

When asked about the possibility of trading Cousins, Atlanta general manager Terry Fontenot told reporters on Wednesday, "We are open to whatever it is if it helps the team."

While a reunion with the Vikings could be intriguing, Russini went on to explain that Cousins' experience of being replaced by Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. late in the 2024 season likely would hinder him from returning to his old franchise.

"Minnesota is looked at as the least likely scenario, given its preference for J.J. McCarthy and that Cousins would need to sign off on any trade he is involved in. It’s believed that Cousins would be against any trade that involves sending him to a situation involving a young QB, similar to the situation he faced in Atlanta last year," Russini stated.

McCarthy is coming off a torn meniscus that cost him his entire rookie year, but the Vikings appear to be confident in moving forward with him as their starter. Still, Minnesota learned last year how important it is to have a reliable backup quarterback, as Sam Darnold put forth a career year and helped lead the team to a 14-3 record before signing with the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent this offseason.

The Steelers are still in need of a quarterback while they wait for veteran free agent Aaron Rodgers to make a decision on his future. Trading for Cousins would almost assuredly take Pittsburgh out of the running for Rodgers, leaving the 41-year-old without a landing spot unless something opens up later this summer.

The Browns brought back veteran quarterback Joe Flacco in the wake of Deshaun Watson's recovery from a torn Achilles, but Cousins would be an obvious upgrade. Cleveland also acquired backup Kenny Pickett from the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this offseason, but the team will need someone more dependable if it hopes to compete for a playoff spot in 2025.

The saga between Cousins and the Falcons could be coming to an end soon, as Russini reported: "If a trade were to happen, I’d expect it to go down on Saturday" during Day 3 of the 2025 NFL draft.