Joe Flacco will remain in the AFC North, as he and the Cleveland Browns agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract. The reunion now gives Cleveland a quarterback room of Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Deshaun Watson.
With three players who have starting experience, the likelihood of the Browns adding a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick continues to look less likely. Similarly, Kirk Cousins—who was once rumored to potentially join Cleveland in 2025—could now also be off the table.
Cousins to an AFC North Team, Not Named the Cleveland Browns?
As the Browns appear to have figured out their quarterback room, their rival Pittsburgh Steelers have not. The Aaron Rodgers-to-Pittsburgh saga feels never-ending, and with Rodgers looking unlikely to land there, is it time to move on? Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated believes so.
“So where could Cousins go? I think Cleveland is a lot less likely now, but not completely impossible. The other team I’d pay attention to is the Pittsburgh Steelers, if Aaron Rodgers decides not to go there,” Breer wrote.
Breer continued, “How he fits there, with the strong personalities in that locker room, and on offense in particular, is a fair question. But you don’t have to squint too hard to envision a marriage of convenience between two sides who, once the dust settles on Rodgers, may need each other.”
Pittsburgh and veteran quarterbacks have gotten along like peanut butter and jelly in recent years. Between the final years of Ben Roethlisberger’s career and Russell Wilson’s short stint, it’s clear Mike Tomlin likes experienced arms running his offense. In 2025, Pittsburgh and Rodgers have been linked for almost two months now.
Currently, the Steelers’ quarterback room features just Mason Rudolph and backup Skylar Thompson. Assuming they draft someone—maybe Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe, or another prospect—that would likely leave one spot remaining.
Cousins to Coach Up Young Steelers QB Room?
Cousins’ 2024 campaign was far from ideal. While there were flashes of greatness, the lows outweighed the highs. But that’s not to say the veteran doesn’t still have something left. Just last season, Cousins put up 509 yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also threw for more yards than any Steelers QB and completed over 65% of his passes.
Sure, the downsides from 2024 are there—like his 18-16 TD-INT ratio—but the writing was on the wall in Atlanta. It was always going to become Michael Penix Jr.’s team sooner or later. Now that it has, Cousins has a chance to prove he still belongs.
And what better place than Pittsburgh? The Steelers are a team where he could throw to DK Metcalf, George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth and others. They’re a team where he could work alongside Tomlin, another respected NFL veteran. And they may even be a team where he could help usher in the next big quarterback talent.