ESPN analysts debate Kirk Cousins, Aaron Rodgers as best option for Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback situation has become an offseason-long saga. There, the Steelers are moving on from Russell Wilson and Justin Fields while seemingly waiting for Aaron Rodgers to decide whether or not to join the team. Now, it appears another option has opened up for Pittsburgh.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins hasn’t been at OTAs this offseason. After signing a massive, four-year $180 million deal, he was benched part of the way through the 2024 season and has since become an expensive backup for a franchise in salary cap trouble. So, potentially, both teams could benefit from a trade.

On Get Up, Bart Scott, Mike Tannenbaum, and Peter Schrager debated the idea. Scott and Tannenbaum agreed he’d be a better option because of the commitment that comes with his contract, whereas Rodgers becomes more of a brief fix.

“It is,” Bart Scott said. “But it’s funny, right, because it’s talking about the butterfly effect. The reason why there’s an opening there is Kenny Pickett was a bust… I believe so. Yes, because they’re still trying to fill that void and Kirk Cousins offers you multiple years of a solution, but with his injury history and also his salary demands, what kind of deal does that mean going forward? Another team that could have benefited from Shedeur [Sanders] because they have a pass rusher named TJ Watt who is gonna reset the market.”

Outside of their contract situation, Cousins and Rodgers seem to be similar options. They’re both aging veterans who recently suffered Achilles injuries. That’s why Cousins’ long-term deal becomes so important in the discussion.

“I don’t think he’s a better play. I think Aaron Rodgers had a sneaky solid season coming back from the Achilles,” Scott said. “But I think he [Cousins] offers you the ability to have two years of a system with one player that everybody can get comfortable around.”

Former New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum agreed. As long as the Steelers don’t take on his entire salary, and the Falcons would likely feel some pressure to agree to take on some of his salary to get the rest off the books, then he becomes the better option.

“I totally see it the same way. He’s five years younger than Aaron Rodgers. You might get two to three really good years out of Kirk Cousins. So, to me, if I’m Pittsburgh — look, at some point, Will Howard has to become part of this discussion. Will Howard was a really good player, didn’t have a great offseason. Maybe they like him. I don’t know. But Mason Rudolph, to me, is going to have competition. If I’m Pittsburgh and I can get some reasonable help on his salary,” Tannenbaum said. “I’d much rather have Kirk Cousins than Aaron Rodgers.”

At this point, Peter Schrager pushed back against the rest of the panel. He explained that he’d see the move as a panic move. Instead, he’d want to see the Steelers rely on the players they do have and continue to wait on Rodgers.

“They could have traded for Kirk Cousins in March. They could have traded for Kirk Cousins in April. To me, this seems like a desperate move to now say, ‘We’ll pay Kirk Cousins’ salary and we’ll eat all this cost and we’re gonna bring him in.’ To me, it’s we’re with Mason Rudolph and Will Howard right now,” Schrager said. “And you’re waiting on Rodgers. You did this to yourself. Kirk Cousins is going to be a better option than Rodgers at that salary?”

Still, Scott thinks that it’s the Falcons who are desperate. That salary cap desperation is going to make it so the Steelers could potentially get a preferential deal in this instance.

“Desperate for who? Because last I checked the Atlanta Falcons were $13 million over the salary cap,” Scott said. “They have to eat some of that money and try to share some of that money so they can sign some free agents on the back end as well. So, they’re both stuck. They need to have a great partnership with each other to work it out.”

Ultimately, the saga that is the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback situation will continue. It will likely keep going forward until Aaron Rodgers makes his decision on whether or not to play in 2025.