Where Will Kirk Cousins End Up? 9 Options.
The Kirk Cousins experiment flopped in Atlanta, paving the way for the Michael Penix Jr. era in December.
Where Will Kirk Cousins End Up? 9 Options.
In theory, Cousins could return to the Falcons in 2025 as the QB2, but on the whole, that feels unlikely.
So, with a roster release or trade rather imminent, these are nine possible landing spots for the former Minnesota Vikings quarterback, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most likely landing spot).
9. San Francisco 49ers
It could finally happen.
During nearly every offseason that Cousins worked for the Vikings, the rumor mill suggested he could be traded to the 49ers because head coach Kyle Shanahan adores him.
Now, Shanahan has a chance to get Cousins for NFL pennies, the first time that’s ever been an option regarding Cousins’ would-be free agency.
8. Tennessee Titans
In all likelihood, the Titans will draft Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, and that’ll be that.
However, if they swerve, Cousins is a decent option to pair with Will Levis while Tennessee presumably waited for the 2026 NFL Draft to choose a quarterback of the future.
7. New Orleans Saints
Also not incredibly likely but required for full disclosure, New Orleans could hedge the bet at quarterback by signing Cousins for a couple of million bucks to pair with Derek Carr, who is habitually injured.
This one probably depends on the Saints’ soon-to-be head coaching hire.
6. Seattle Seahawks
There isn’t much steam for Seattle to move on from Geno Smith, but he has no more guaranteed money on his contract.
Cousins could be “the new Geno Smith” in Seattle if the Seahawks decided Smith has peaked.
5. Indianapolis Colts
Since Andrew Luck shockingly retired, the Colts have employed veteran quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett, Nick Foles, Joe Flacco, Gardner Minshew, Matt Ryan, Philip Rivers, and Carson Wentz.
Cousins feels like a name that could be next on that list.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
Justin Fields or Russell Wilson? Steelers fans will debate that choice for the next several weeks as Pittsburgh continues its quest to solve the quarterback once and for all after Ben Roethlisberger retired three years ago.
Cousins is probably more productive than Fields and Wilson.
3. New York Giants
The Giants are not in a prime draft spot to select a quarterback of the future in April, and Joe Schoen + Brian Daboll must win now — those are the working theories, anyway.
So, insert Cousins at QB1 while the Giants presumably draft a passer like Jaxson Dart, Quinn Ewers, or Kyle McCord.
2. Las Vegas Raiders
Like the Giants, the Raiders don’t have an ideal spot in the draft to choose a quarterback like Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. They’re scheduled to pick sixth.
If the Raiders want to wait a year for the 2026 quarterback draft class, Cousins could swing over to Vegas for cheap and pair with Pete Carroll for a season.
1. Cleveland Browns
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski worked with Cousins during the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Cleveland is embroiled in quarterback-related salary cap hell, and to get the Browns over the stink of Deshaun Watson, an inexpensive Cousins might be the best solution.
This is the most common sensical spot for Cousins in 2025 — by a mile.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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