Former LB, former NFL GM address if Steelers should pursue Falcons' Kirk Cousins over Aaron Rodgers

Numerous reports have made it clear that the Pittsburgh Steelers would rather sign free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers than make a trade for Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons before training-camp practices get underway in July.

During Monday's edition of the ESPN "Get Up" program, former NFL linebacker and current analyst Bart Scott made it known he thinks the Steelers should pivot from Rodgers to Cousins sooner rather than later. 

"Kirk Cousins offers you multiple years of a solution," Scott explained, as shared by Jeremy Pike of Steelers Depot. "I don't think he's a better player. I think Aaron Rodgers had a sneaky solid season coming back from the Achilles. But I think [Cousins] offers you the ability to have two years of a system with one player that everybody can get comfortable around."

Rodgers turns 42 years old in December, suffered a torn Achilles in September 2023 and was slowed by a handful of physical setbacks during what became his final season with the New York Jets. Meanwhile, Cousins turns 37 in August and was also banged up during this past campaign after he went down with a torn Achilles in October 2023. 

According to Pro Football Reference, Rodgers ended the 2024 regular season ranked 28th among qualified players with a 48.0 adjusted QBR and tied for 20th with a 90.5 passer rating. Over 17 starts, he tossed 28 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. 

To compare, Cousins was 25th with a 50.4 adjusted QBR and 22nd with an 88.6 passer rating. Before he was benched in December, he recorded 18 touchdown passes and a league-worst 16 picks (tied with Baker Mayfield of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) across 14 starts. 

2024 first-round draft choice Michael Penix Jr. is on track to serve as Atlanta's 2025 Week 1 QB1. 

Rodgers would only cost the Steelers the price of his contract, but reportedly doesn't have any type of handshake agreement to join the club either before or after its mandatory minicamp runs from June 10-12. Meanwhile, the Falcons may want an acquiring team "to pay a significant portion of" the salary attached to the four-year, $180M deal that Cousins signed in March 2024. 

For what it's worth, former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum revealed during the "Get Up" segment that he agrees with Scott.

"I totally see it the same way," Tannenbaum said about the Steelers' quarterback situation. "[Cousins is] five years younger than Aaron Rodgers. You might get two to three really good years out of Kirk Cousins."

Cousins could become Pittsburgh's fallback option if Rodgers doesn't put pen to paper on a contract before players begin reporting for training camp. One wonders if Steelers general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin could decide before the July 4 holiday arrives that they'd rather work with Cousins instead of Rodgers following the events of the past few months.