Kirk Cousins, Browns rumors seem like they’ve been going on for a year and are no closer to resolution
The NFL’s offseason is a couple of weeks in and we are no closer to knowing who will start for the Cleveland Browns at quarterback for the 2025 NFL season. If the Browns had the top overall pick, and their pick of quarterbacks, that would be less of a concern.
Veteran QB Kirk Cousins has been rumored to join Cleveland since before the 2024 season even ended. Most assumed that the Atlanta Falcons would just release the veteran to save another $10 million that was due him but, instead, the Falcons guaranteed that money.
We’ve mocked up a trade that could see Cousins to the Browns but his no-trade clause could play a huge role in that decision. Cleveland’s trade for Kenny Pickett is not expected to play any kind of role in a Cousins decision.
According to Albert Breer, the Falcons and Cousins each have goals they are trying to accomplish with a trade. Let the games begin:
Kirk Cousins’ Goals
Why would Cousins block a trade to a place where he can start? My understanding it would be chiefly to avoid the situation he found himself in last April when he was blindsided by Atlanta’s decision to take Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth pick. And that could be where the draft position of the aforementioned teams comes into play.
One thing I have heard Cousins’s camp would be amenable to is working out the particulars of a trade ahead of the draft, on the contingency that a team trading for him not take one in the first round. Of course, that would require working the money and compensation out ahead of time, and a lot can happen between now and the end of April.
That is a lot of power Cousins is trying to use to get what he wants which, seemingly, includes not playing for Atlanta next year but also controlling what his 2025 team does in the NFL draft.
Falcons Goals
Pretty simple, Atlanta wants a draft pick to make up for the money they’ve agreed to pay Cousins:
The other issue here is that Falcons owner Arthur Blank really doesn’t want to pay $90 million, or close to it, for a single year of Cousins. That will affect how much of Cousins’s $27.5 million for 2025 the Falcons are willing to take on to facilitate a trade and essentially buy a draft pick back from the team acquiring Cousins.
Browns Goals
While we are all trying to connect the dots, it seems like Cleveland has been waiting for what happens with Cousins. Russell Wilson visited Berea but no contract was signed. Jameis Winston moved on with the New York Giants.
The Browns could revisit Wilson or look to sign Aaron Rodgers. Perhaps that trade-up to the top overall pick to select Cam Ward will make it all moot.
For now, Cousins and the Falcons are playing games to achieve their goals. How Cleveland fits into the game is still to be determined.
How do you feel about this most recent report on Cousins and the Falcons playing games heading into the NFL draft? Should the Browns play a part of their game?
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