Breaking news :Steelers Pressed to Sign $231 Million QB to ‘Absolutely’ Become Title Contenders
The Pittsburgh Steelers earned another playoff berth under head coach Mike Tomlin this season. But the team also made another first-round exit in large part because Pittsburgh’s quarterback play is not up to par with the AFC elite.
ESPN’s Marcus Spears argued on January 17 that the Steelers could change that and instantly become Super Bowl contenders with one major move this offseason — sign quarterback Kirk Cousins.
“You damn right they are. You are absolutely right, they are [a Super Bowl contender with Cousins],” Spears said on ESPN’s Get Up. “An explosive offense with Mike Tomlin is a Super Bowl contender. I guarantee it.”
Cousins’ right Achilles tendon was torn on October 29, and there was no assurance he would be able to return to play. On injured reserve, he concluded the season.
However, Cousins’ recuperation is proceeding as planned, and in March he will be free to sign with another team.
In the summer of 2022, cousins agreed to a $35 million, one-year contract extension for the 2023 season. According to Spotrac, he has made over $231.7 million during the course of his 12-year NFL career.
This past season, Cousins started eight games and completed 69.5% of his passes for 2,331 yards, eight touchdowns, and five interceptions.
How Kirk Cousins Could Fit With the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have the edge rushers to contend for a championship in T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. The organization is also optimistic that defensive lineman Cameron Heyward and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick can recover from their 2023 injuries in time to play close to All-Pro levels the following season.
To bolster that core, the Steelers have young players like defensive lineman Keeanu Benton and cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
On offense, the Steelers possess lots of young playmakers and a rookie offensive tackle.
With all that in mind, Spears argued Cousins would be the final piece to bring it all together.
“They got this team where they needed to be, even though he [Tomlin] had to fire his offensive coordinator in the middle of the season,” Spears remarked on ESPN. He used Mason Rudolph and Kenny Pickett as his quarterbacks. That’s all the quarterback is lacking.
In an interview with Scott Polacek of Bleacher Report, Cousins, who turns 36 in August, expressed optimism that he will fully heal from his Achilles surgery by 2024.
Cousins has seven times in his twelve NFL seasons passed for 4,000 passing yards. In addition, he has passed for 30 touchdowns in three seasons and made four Pro Bowls.
Before his limited 2023 season, Cousins was a member of the Pro Bowl in 2021 and 2022.
Will the Minnesota Vikings Allow Cousins to Leave?
Previously, the Vikings never allowed Cousins to enter the final year of his contract without an extension. The two sides agreed to extensions in 2020 and 2022, in both cases, with a year left on the quarterback’s current deal.
When no new agreement was made during the summer of 2023, that changed. Even so, Cousins seems confident that he won’t be switching teams.
“Perhaps we can arrange for something to occur,” Cousins said to Polacek. “Time will tell.” Regretfully, the schedule necessitates finishing the playoffs and the Combine in February before we can begin deciphering everything.
“You just kind of end up waiting around for March to turn when those conversations start to happen because of the sheer amount of time between now and then.”
However, even if Cousins reaches free agency, there are doubts about whether the Steelers would pursue the veteran quarterback.
When asked whether the team’s 2024 starting quarterback was currently on the roster, Tomlin answered “yes” during his January 18 press conference.
In addition, Tomlin predicted that Kenny Pickett, driven by competition, will emerge as the team’s best quarterback. Rather than facing competition from cousins, he would replace Pickett in the starting role.
Although the Steelers might decide to go in a different direction, it doesn’t seem like they have an offseason plan to sign a starting quarterback like Cousins.
Sports writer Dave Holcomb writes about the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers for Heavy.com. Holcomb, who is originally from Pittsburgh, has covered professional and collegiate sports for publications like Fansided, Rotowire, and Yardbarker.Additional information on Dave Holcomb
