Following an disappointing debut season in Atlanta, four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins is once again the subject of trade speculation – and one prominent NFL analyst believes his next stop is clear.
Cousins, who signed a massive four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons in 2024, struggled to meet expectations in his first season with the team.
He started 14 games, throwing for 3,508 yards and 18 touchdowns – but also a league-high 16 interceptions.
That uneven performance, combined with the team’s decision to hand the offense to rookie Michael Penix Jr. late in the year, has prompted talk of a possible exit.
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky is confident he knows where Cousins should land: Cleveland.
“I think Kirk Cousins will eventually be with the Cleveland Browns,” Orlovsky said on The Pat McAfee Show.
Orlovsky laid out the potential upside, noting that Cousins could be the missing piece for a Browns team that’s been searching for quarterback stability amid injuries and uncertainty.
Orlovsky believes the Browns have a “chance” to win the AFC North if they “have Kirk Cousins as your starting quarterback and draft Travis Hunter with the second pick.”
The Browns’ quarterback room is currently in flux.
Deshaun Watson has yet to return from back-to-back Achilles injuries – first in October 2024, and then a setback in January 2025.
Kenny Pickett, acquired from the Eagles earlier this offseason, is currently the only healthy QB under contract.
And team owner Jimmy Haslam has already conceded that the fully guaranteed deal given to Watson was a total mistake, calling it a “big swing and miss.”
That’s left the Browns open to alternative solutions – and Cousins could be one of them.
In Atlanta, meanwhile, the franchise appears ready to pivot.
The Falcons selected Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick in last year’s draft, and the rookie took over as starter in Week 16. All signs point to Penix being the quarterback of the future in Atlanta.
Cousins, who turns 37 before the 2025 season, remains under contract and is due a fully guaranteed $27.5 million salary next year.
However, reports suggest he may be willing to waive his no-trade clause – particularly for a team like Cleveland, which offers a competitive roster and the chance to contend in a wide-open AFC North.
Though no deal is imminent, Orlovsky’s confidence in the move has added fuel to the fire.
For a Browns franchise desperate to stabilize the most important position in football, a veteran like Cousins might be more than just a stopgap – he could be the answer.
What are your thoughts on Cousins potentially winding up in Cleveland???
