During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, ESPN NFL analyst Peter Schrager said that Kirk Cousins being traded to the Cleveland Browns “would make a lot of sense” due to his relationship with head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Kirk Cousins’ Time in Atlanta Hasn’t Gone to Plan
Just over a year ago, Cousins signed a lucrative four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons after a strong run in Minnesota from 2018 through 2023. During that stretch, Cousins averaged 270 yards per game with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 115-39 in 57 games. Despite missing half of the 2023 season with an Achilles injury, he earned a big payday, including a $50 million signing bonus.
However, after returning from injury, Cousins could not replicate his previous success in Atlanta. Through Week 14, he had thrown just 18 touchdowns—the same number he hit in only eight games the year before—and posted a career-high 16 interceptions. Following the rocky start for Cousins, rookie Michael Penix Jr. took over the starting job.
Penix Jr.—whose selection with the No. 8 overall pick came just six weeks after Cousins signed—was a controversial choice. But he started the final three weeks of the season, showed potential, and seemingly proved himself worthy of the starting role going forward. That shift sparked rumors of a Cousins trade, and one team gaining traction is the Cleveland Browns, primarily due to Cousins’ history with Stefanski.
Cousins Reuniting With Kevin Stefanski ‘Would Make a Lot of Sense’
During Cousins’ successful run in Minnesota, he worked closely with Stefanski, who spent 14 seasons in the Vikings organization before becoming the Browns’ head coach. When they first joined forces in 2018, Stefanski was the quarterbacks coach. He later served as interim offensive coordinator and kept that role for the 2019 season, when Minnesota finished 10-6 and made the playoffs—landing Stefanski his first head coaching opportunity.
With the Browns in need of a new quarterback—Deshaun Watson ranked dead last in PFSN’s QB+ metric among 39 qualified quarterbacks in 2024—and Cousins out of a starting job, there’s a real chance he and Stefanski could reunite.
During Schrager’s appearance on the April 1 episode of “The Pat McAfee Show,” he said, “Stefanski and Cousins have a really good personal relationship.”
He also pointed to a post on X where a Browns fan shared a picture of Cousins at a Chipotle in Ohio. That tweet added more fuel to the fire, hinting at a possible visit with Stefanski and the Browns staff.
Kirk cousins currently at Westlake Chipotle #Browns pic.twitter.com/W4PLDxAFDd
— Dwntwnbrwn🇺🇸 (@Dwntwnbwn1) March 27, 2025
Schrager went on to say that a Cousins trade is definitely on the table, and the destination may not have to be Cleveland due to Cousins not wanting to sit behind Penix Jr.
As for Cleveland, Schrager said, “In Cleveland, he goes to a quarterbacks coach [slash] whisperer that he’s had—with whom he’s got a relationship—a fanbase that would be thrilled to have him; and he’s an upgrade, and he’s the quarterback one.”
The Falcons no longer need the 36-year-old veteran under center, and the Browns are desperate for stability at the position. It remains to be seen whether the two sides work out a deal, but if Cousins lands in Cleveland, he’d be in familiar hands with an old friend leading the way.