The Pittsburgh Steelers were one of the teams most desperate for quarterback help, but they elected to pass on quarterbacks until the sixth round, taking Ohio State’s Will Howard at No. 185 overall. The inaction indicates that the Steelers are confident in landing four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers, but what happens if they don’t?
Ian Rapoport Believes Kirk Cousins a Possibility for Steelers
NFL insider Ian Rapoport believes Kirk Cousins would be the backup option if they fail to land Rodgers. The Atlanta Falcons quarterback signed a four-year, $180 million contract last offseason but found himself in limbo after losing the starting position to first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr.
The NFL insider was on “The Pat McAfee Show” and brought up Pittsburgh as a landing spot if Rodgers elects not to sign with the Steelers as expected.
“If he leaves Atlanta, where might he go? I think if your good friend Aaron Rodgers does not go to Pittsburgh, I think that would be a possibility.”
"If Aaron Rodgers doesn't go to Pittsburgh I think that's a possibility for Kirk Cousins..
It feels like the other possibilities kind of don't exist after the draft..
The longer this goes it feel like he's gonna be the Falcons backup" ~ @RapSheet #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/ZzLRxumpg7
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 28, 2025
However, if Cousins doesn’t go to the Steelers, he may be stuck in Atlanta as the backup for Penix this season.
“The more this goes, I kind of think he’s going to be the Falcons’ backup.”
“He’s got family in Atlanta. I believe his kids have grandparents in Atlanta. I think it’s his wife’s family. He’s got the no-trade clause. I’m not sure he’s going to go anywhere unless, like, something crazy happens where he would be able to go be the starter.”
Rapoport cites the Cleveland Browns as a destination that could have been viable before the NFL Draft, but now that the team drafted two quarterbacks in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, it seems unlikely the franchise will also trade for Cousins.
Cousins Could Be a Post-June 1 Cut or Trade Candidate
Based on how Cousins’ contract is structured, it’s likely that we would have to wait until June 1 for more clarity anyway.
Had Cousins been traded at the draft or anytime before June 1, the Falcons would have incurred $37.5 million in dead money and only saved $2.5 million against the cap. If they waited until after June 1, the dead money charge would drop to $12.5 million, and they would get $27.5 million in cap savings.
However, Cousins has a no-trade clause, and he could make it difficult for Atlanta to trade him. The same applies should he get cut, which looks increasingly unlikely now that the Falcons have paid his $10 million roster bonus in March.
The pre-June 1 dead money cap charge is $65 million, and that drops to $40 million if he is cut after June 1.