Why Browns trading for Falcons' Kirk Cousins 'appears unlikely at this point'

Cleveland Browns reporter Daryl Ruiter of sports radio station 92.3 The Fan said on Monday he's now "less convinced" the team will trade for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins. 

While Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris insisted on Tuesday that his team remains open to a deal that is "good for the Falcons and Kirk Cousins," Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer indicated the AFC North club won't be landing the veteran anytime soon. 

"A trade to the Browns, however, appears unlikely at this point, because it must satisfy all three entities: the Falcons, Browns and Cousins," Cabot wrote. "The Falcons want a significant amount of relief on [his] $37.5M salary, meaning the new team would have to agree to take on a sizable chunk of that. The Browns will want to pay a relatively moderate sum because of their $37M cap charge for Deshaun Watson and the fact that their rookie might start for them this season; and Cousins wants a starting opportunity. The deal would also include draft pick compensation, but the Falcons would likely take what they could get if they decide to let him go."

Many have assumed since Cousins lost the Atlanta starting job to 2024 first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr. in December that the 36-year-old would be interested in joining the Browns because he played under Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski when the two were with the Minnesota Vikings. However, the four-year contract Cousins received from the Falcons in March 2024 included a full no-trade clause, and it's believed he could block a move to a club that selects a quarterback with a high-value pick during the upcoming draft. 

The Browns reportedly could pass on making Colorado signal-caller Shedeur Sanders the draft's second selection, but they could target a prospect such as Alabama's Jalen Milroe at overall pick No. 33. Milroe had Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees as his OC in college. 

With all that said, Cousins may need the Browns to swoop in for his services if the Pittsburgh Steelers sign Aaron Rodgers. Steelers owner and president Art Rooney II said on Tuesday he keeps hearing that Rodgers is "headed in our direction" amid rumors suggesting the future Hall of Famer truly wants to play for the Vikings.