Will Falcons or Steelers Target a Free Agent QB Upgrade?

Although Kirk Cousins is coming off a torn Achilles as NFL free agency approaches, his injury and recovery shouldn’t cost him too much money on the open market. As the clear No. 1 FA quarterback in a class that also includes Baker Mayfield, Jacoby Brissett, and Gardner Minshew, Cousins should have any trouble finding interested teams.

What could Cousins’ market look like this offseason? A reunion with the Minnesota Vikings wouldn’t surprise anyone, so let’s run through the non-Vikings clubs that could pursue Cousins once the new league year begins in March.

Best Non-Vikings Free Agent Landing Spots for Kirk Cousins

Cousins, who has already said he would consider accepting a hometown discount to remain in Minnesota, is ahead of schedule as he recovers from his Achilles injury. He should be throwing again within the next month, as NFL Network reported on Friday.

Cousins’ current contract structure will prevent the Vikings from franchise-tagging him in 2024. Here are four teams that might consider Cousins if he reaches free agency.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons are nearly there. After spending three consecutive first-round picks on TE Kyle Pitts, WR Drake London, and RB Bijan Robinson and shelling out ample cash to augment its defense in free agency, Atlanta and new head coach Raheem Morris are just about set up to compete.

They just happen to be lacking at the most critical position in sports.

Former third-round pick Desmond Ridder faceplanted as the Falcons’ starter in 2023, committing 19 turnovers in 13 starts while finishing with the fourth-worst QBR (40.0). Backup Taylor Henicke would have ranked just three spots ahead of Ridder in QBR if he’d had enough attempts to qualify.

While Atlanta only has $25 million in available cap space, owner Arthur Blank has never restricted free agent spending in the past. The Falcons have the wherewithal to restructure several veteran contracts, converting base salaries into signing bonuses while opening up more financial breathing room in the immediate term.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Rams QB coach Zac Robinson is reportedly the top candidate to become Atlanta’s offensive coordinator. Robinson would come to the Falcons bringing Sean McVay’s offense, which Cousins is already intimately familiar with after playing under McVay disciple Kevin O’Connell for the past two years.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Although head coach Mike Tomlin said former first-round pick Kenny Pickett would enter the offseason as the Steelers’ top quarterback, he quickly added a caveat.

“Obviously, there will be competition,” Tomlin said, refusing to fully commit to Pickett after the 25-year-old lost his starting job to Mason Rudolph in 2023. Rudolph is a pending free agent, leaving Pittsburgh with just Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky under contract next year.

MORE: Will the Vikings Draft a QB in 2024?

Can the Steelers trust Pickett as their 2024 starter? He showed little growth during his second NFL campaign, retaining similar interception and sack rates from his rookie season while ranking 24th among 30 qualifiers in EPA per play.

Cousins would be an obvious upgrade for Pittsburgh, which already rosters intriguing offensive options like Jaylen Warren, George Pickens, Diontae Johnson, and Pat Freiermuth. The Steelers already made the playoffs in 2023 with Pickett/Trubisky/Rudolph under center — how far could they advance with Cousins?

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders will enter the 2024 offseason with a new power structure, making them something of a mystery. After removing the interim tag from head coach Antonio Pierce‘s title and hiring former Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco in the same role, Las Vegas could attack the upcoming offseason in myriad ways.

Still, their QB options remain limited. After winning seven games, the Raiders hold the 13th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which could put them out of range for drafting an immediate starting quarterback.

Jimmy Garoppolo will likely be released, but Aidan O’Connell could get a chance at Vegas’ starting job after a decent rookie showing in 2023. Among the 69 rookie QBs since 2000 to make at least eight starts during their first NFL season(no s here), O’Connell’s 5.37 adjusted net yards per attempt ranked 26th.

But if Pierce and Telesco want to win immediately, developing O’Connell might not be an option. In that case, signing Cousins to throw to Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and Michael Mayer could make sense for the Raiders.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After posting the best season of his career with the Buccaneers in 2023, Baker Mayfield appears likely to return as Tampa Bay’s starting QB next season. While Mayfield is a pending free agent, the Buccaneers have “definite interest” in extending him this offseason, as CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reported in December.

Still, there’s always a chance that Tampa Bay and Mayfield won’t agree on a price point. If the Bucs don’t extend Mayfield on a long-term deal, they might not be willing to use the franchise tag either, given that the tender will cost nearly $36 million for quarterbacks in 2024.

The Buccaneers have the cap space (roughly $47 million) to bring in Cousins if they don’t get a contract done with Mayfield. Cousins offers a higher ceiling and a higher floor. The Buccaneers could be amenable to opening their checkbooks for a proven option like Cousins, especially given how veteran-laden the rest of their roster is.

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