PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s the time for the late rumors before the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday. Veteran Athletic reporter Diana Russini reports the Steelers are interested in Kirk Cousins.
Cousins was replaced at the end of last season in Atlanta after a horrible final six games as starter:
· 1 TD, 9 INT, 64 QB rating, 11 sacks, 5 fumbles
First-round pick Michael Penix started the last three games. Cousins overall on the season:
· 66.9%, 3508 yards, 14 starts, 18 TD, 16 INT, 88.6 QB rating
The contract is $180 million for four years and he just completed the first year of the deal. The cap hit this year would be $40 million and there is a full no trade clause according to spotrac.com. Russini reports it is believed that Cousins would be against a trade to a team with a young quarterback, similar to the situation with the Falcons last year.
It’s also important to note in Russini’s initial report that not only are the Steelers, but the Cleveland Browns and potentially Minnesota Vikings (where he played before Atlanta) are involved in a trade for Cousins. It’s also vital to know the action words used in the report ‘COULD be involved’.
This could mean the Steelers know more about what Aaron Rodgers is thinking and Cousins could be a veteran to put with a young quarterback. Let’s say the plan is to trade for Cousins and then draft Shedeur Sanders or any quarterback early. That’s just what Cousins says he doesn’t want and if he thought the pressure was high in Atlanta to play Penix, imagine what it would be like in Pittsburgh to play Sanders, Jaxson Dart of whomever? We just saw the outrage three years ago when fans wanted Kenny Pickett on the field.
Where it works is if the Steelers take a quarterback in rounds three through seven that would need time and Cousins would be the starter over Mason Rudolph. Although the current roster might prefer Rudolph in that situation.
Answers will start to come this weekend.