Insider addresses rumors linking Browns with Falcons’ Kirk Cousins

Shortly after the Denver Broncos ate the largest dead cap hit in NFL history to part ways with quarterback Russell Wilson this past March, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Wilson to an inexpensive team-friendly deal. He has since helped the 10-4 club climb to the top of the AFC North standings. 

For a piece published Thursday, The Athletic’s Mike Sando shared how the Cleveland Browns could go down a similar road regarding the signing of current Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins during the upcoming offseason. 

“Cousins and Browns coach Kevin Stefanski overlapped on the Vikings in 2018 and 2019, when Cousins was the starting quarterback and Stefanski was quarterbacks coach and later offensive coordinator. That arrangement worked well enough for the Browns to hire Stefanski as their coach in 2020,” Sando explained. “…Cousins’ relationship with Stefanski could help him trust the Browns to be more straightforward with him than the Falcons were when they surprisingly selected [first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr.] weeks after signing Cousins.”

Cousins put pen to paper on a four-year, $180M contract that included $100M guaranteed with the Falcons in March and later left little doubt he was displeased that the club made Penix the eighth overall pick of this year’s draft. While Cousins recently played like a signal-caller who was “out of gas” before he was benched in favor of Penix, it’s worth noting that numerous analysts suggested at this time last year that Wilson’s days as an NFL starter were over. 

Wilson seemingly has resurrected his career with Pittsburgh to the point that he could receive a multi-year contract. 

As for the Browns, they are expected to bring Stefanski, general manager Andrew Berry and much-maligned quarterback Deshaun Watson back for at least the 2025 season. Watson will almost certainly be asked to compete with a rookie and/or an inexpensive option for the starting job during the summer. Cousins could ultimately become that cheap offseason signing. 

“At this stage,” Sando added, “Cousins wouldn’t command a guaranteed long-term starting job…The play-action and under-center tactics Stefanski prefers could take pressure off Cousins after the Falcons, for whatever reason, did not use either much with him this season.”

Analysts have noted that Cousins seemed to struggle moving even on handoffs this fall coming off the torn Achilles he suffered in October 2023. Perhaps having an offseason to work with a familiar coach when he isn’t recovering from such a serious setback could help the 36-year-old follow in Wilson’s footsteps. 

As for the Browns, they’re likely stuck with what’s left of the disastrous fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract they gave Watson in March 2022 through at least January 2026. If Cousins would agree to a deal similar to the one Wilson signed to join the Steelers, the Browns may feel the former Minnesota starter is their best free-agency option assuming the Falcons move on from Cousins.