Kirk Cousins May Not Be a Free Agent for Long
Free-agent passer Kirk Cousins has been unemployed for nearly three weeks, his longest gap since college at Michigan State. But thanks to Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, Cousins’s options became clearer on Monday: he may end up as the QB2 behind Matthew Stafford in 2026.
The Rams are in the Cousins conversation.
The whole Mike Shanahan coaching tree eternally loves Cousins, and McVay said at the NFL’s league meetings that Cousins is on his radar.
McVay’s Remarks Put Cousins Back on the Radar
Cousins seeks his fourth NFL team.
McVay on Cousins: We Might Sign Him
McVay didn’t hold back this week in expressing his interest in Cousins. He told reporters, “Hey, I’d love to have Jimmy Garoppolo back with us. That’s a big deal for us. He’s earned the right to be able to take his time and do whatever he wants. Is there an opportunity to explore, if it’s not Jimmy, like Kirk Cousins? Of course. I’d love to be able to see what that looks like. So those are two guys we’ve talked about.”
“Those are things that we’re very interested in possibly exploring, but again, it’s really premature. I know Kirk has some other options and opportunities as well, but he’s a guy that I have familiarity with, history, and a lot of reverence for because of the gratitude from our experiences together.”
Garoppolo served as the Rams’ QB2 last year and is probably the frontrunner to retake the job, even with McVay’s comments.
All the Would-Be Cousins Landing Spots
Of course, it’s not an exact science to predict Cousins’s eventual landing spot. A team’s QB1 could suffer a season-ending injury in June, and Cousins would then be its first call.
But based on the rumor mill and quarterback lay of the land, this is likely Cousins’s destination list:
- Arizona Cardinals
- Cleveland Browns
- Green Bay Packers
- Indianapolis Colts
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Rams
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- San Francisco 49ers
The Raiders make the most sense if Fernando Mendoza, the consensus first overall pick, isn’t ready to start Week 1. The Steelers, too, could take the plunge if Aaron Rodgers retires. He’s currently holding Pittsburgh hostage with his unnecessary decision-making process.
SI.com’s Brock Vierra quoted an anonymous source Monday, claiming Cousins would welcome a Rams contract: “Kirk has made more money than God. This guy wants championships so bad, to be with that organization, that general manager, Les Snead, and Sean McVay, and the talent assembled around them.”
“Not only for next year, someone with the ability of Kirk to back up a QB like Matt Stafford for a season that is championship or bust.”
2025 Performance
Cousins’ performance in 2025 raised concerns. Even with Bijan Robinson’s best-in-the-NFL RB play, Atlanta’s offense never fully clicked, and Cousins’ EPA+CPOE ranked near the bottom of the league, around 30th out of 35 qualifying quarterbacks.
Any team signing him is betting on a rebound. McVay’s system, for example, could revitalize Cousins’ career, allowing him to regain the consistent form he demonstrated for over a decade.
After earning approximately $100 million guaranteed in Atlanta over the past two seasons, his future earnings are uncertain. Most speculate that Cousins will sign a team-friendly deal, but with Cousins, one can never rule out the largest payout possible. That’s his schtick.
His physical limitations are also a consideration. Cousins has largely become a pocket passer, rarely extending plays with his legs. This trend, noticeable during his final years in Minnesota, became even more pronounced in Atlanta, where the offense often struggled when the offensive line faltered.
A Coaching Tree Favorite
Absolutely no one is surprised that McVay would be interested in Cousins; McVay came from the Mike Shanahan coaching tree, and those guys have adored Cousins for a decade and a half.
Given the existing connections within the league, Cousins joining the Rams would not be unexpected — at all. McVay’s ties to Washington, coupled with the Shanahan coaching tree — where Cousins initially gained traction — make the possibility plausible, especially considering the consistent support he’s received from key figures like Kyle Shanahan, Kevin O’Connell, and Matt LaFleur.
Those coaches understand Cousins’s strengths, particularly his aptitude for the timing-based offenses favored by their systems, a style that historically promotes offensive consistency when executed effectively.
McVay was Cousins’s offensive coordinator in Washington during the 2014, 2015, and 2016 campaigns. The two know each other well.
The Rams lead the way in the 2026 offseason as Super Bowl favorites, slightly edging the Seattle Seahawks.
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