Shocking Steelers trade pitch acquires $150 million 4-time Pro Bowl quarterback over Aaron Rodgers

Even after the 2025 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t have a starting-caliber quarterback on their roster. The team passed on Shedeur Sanders multiple times during the draft and opted to wait until Round 6 to add a quarterback, who ended up being Ohio State’s Will Howard.

Pittsburgh has been waiting on Aaron Rodgers to make a decision regarding his future for over a month, and at some point, general manager Omar Khan must move on and think about external options. Another potential quarterback candidate is Atlanta Falcons veteran Kirk Cousins, who SB Nation’s James Dator predicts will land with the Steelers.

“At some point this team needs to cut bait with the idea of signing Aaron Rodgers and go in a different direction, and Atlanta is the perfect partner to make a deal. Kirk Cousins showed at the start of last season that there’s gas left in the tank, and his arm strength makes him a better match with D.K. Metcalf than Rodgers would be,” Dator wrote.

Cousins had the worst year of his career in 2024, as he tied for the league lead in interceptions thrown with 16 and was benched for Michael Penix Jr. for the final few games.

With Atlanta set to move forward with Penix as the starter, Cousins’ long-term future with the franchise is murky. Though the Falcons may just keep him as the backup, they could also look to trade the veteran signal-caller and give him an opportunity to start elsewhere.

Though he is coming off a horrid season, Cousins could flourish in the Steelers’ offense and give Mike Tomlin’s squad competent quarterback play. Pittsburgh fields a dynamic wide receiver duo in DK Metcalf and George Pickens, a promising offensive line, and an experienced offensive coordinator in Arthur Smith. It would be a fantastic situation for Cousins to step into.

Obviously, landing Rodgers is the best-case scenario for the Steelers. However, Cousins would be a solid backup plan, as the 36-year-old has plenty of starting experience and could lead Pittsburgh back to the playoffs. Acquiring him in a trade also shouldn’t cost much, as he is an aging player on a massive contract.