Steelers Target Veteran Kirk Cousins, Pairing Him with Will Howard if Aaron Rodgers Doesn’t Return 

The Steelers will not be waiting nearly as long for word from veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers about his intent to play football as they did a year ago, and the team is working to procure other options at quarterback in the meantime.

Former Vikings playoff quarterback Kirk Cousins is among the top options for Pittsburgh if Rodgers is not back, according to league sources, while the team is legitimately high on the upside of second-year quarterback Will Howard as well. 

Rodgers is notorious for taking his time and mulling his options as to whether or not he will play or retire, but the quarterback market is already beginning to fall in line in free agency, with top option Malik Willis signing with Miami at the start of free agency (as we pointed to week ago and around the $25M/year figure we projected as well). 

The Steelers cannot afford to let Rodgers drag the process out too long, although the team is also unlikely to take a chance on some of the other back-up options floating around.

Why Cousins?

The Steelers were not interested in Miami former starter Tua Tagovailoa, according to sources, given his injury history, suspect play in recent years and well-documented failures to produce in cold weather (he signed with Atlanta on Monday). 

Kyler Murray, another former first-round pick looking for a new team, is seen as a remote possibility, sources said, and it’s becoming increasingly clear in the market place that Murray would like to end up with the Vikings (one NFL executive involved in the pursuit of quarterback help maintained the Raiders are an option for Murray as well, perhaps as a bridge for presumptive first-overall pick Fernando Mendoza to learn on the job and not have to start from Week 1.

The Steelers remain in the mode of reaching the postseason, and continue to add assets on offense, acquiring receiver Michael Pittman from Indianapolis Contrary to some offseason reports, the Steelers have no interest in trading DK Metcalf, whom they acquiring from Seattle a year ago, never entertained any trade talks concerning him and plan to pair him with Pittman. 

Cousins is a quick learner, performed much better in the second half of the season with Atlanta and is now fully recovered from an Achilles injury that marred much of his time with the Falcons.

Pittsburgh would ideally pair a proven veteran starter with Howard, who they believe improved significantly in their first year as a pro after being selected in the sixth round and has potential starting upside but needs more time to develop. 

Cousins has been one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the NFL since breaking in with Washington, and his physical limitations are similar to Rodgers is at this stage of his career. Cousins can still excel throwing the deep ball, however, and has been a stalwart in play action under center in his career, a staple for Pittsburgh offenses and something that would mesh well with new coach Mike McCarthy’s offense.