Falcons ready to squeeze the Browns for QB Kirk Cousins?

The Cleveland Browns quarterback scenario is a multitude. Everybody is aware of this. However issues are starting to kind themselves out, and readability will start to disclose itself very shortly. It is going to. It has to.

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Here’s what is for certain: Dorian Thompson-Robinson is not a Browns mission. Former first-round decide Kenny Pickett has discovered a brand new residence in Cleveland to most probably turn into the skilled backup. For one, Pickett can begin as he has performed in 30 NFL video games with 25 begins. He’s the brand new Case Keenum to Baker Mayfield. Have him if you happen to want him, however need the opposite man to be the starter.

Browns GM Andrew Berry will draft a younger man on this yr’s April draft. What spherical and which participant is undetermined. Cleveland owns double-digit picks with two third-round slots. One is early with the third alternative at #67 after which later at #94.

So, the backup QB is crammed, and the brand new developmental man is forthcoming for QB3.

What’s apparent – is the starter. Proper now, there isn’t one. And the free company interval is nearly per week previous. Hmmm….

The lineup

Now exhibiting at your native Berea coaching facility is a refrain lineup of getting old celebrity quarterbacks anxious to nonetheless play and stay on any person’s payroll.

The lineup contains Russell Wilson and his 350 profession touchdowns. Regardless of being simply 5’-11”, he packs a punch and has rushed 1.024 occasions for five,462 yards with 31 scores on the bottom. By no means thoughts that he’ll flip 37 in the course of the season, it’s only a quantity.

Picture by Al Pereira/Getty Pictures

Subsequent up is Aaron Rodgers who has performed since he owned his first Blackberry who has a whooping 241 NFL begins and is a candidate for NFL QB of three totally different a long time. The yr Rodgers started was the start of an web platform known as “YouTube” because the “Twilight” film collection dominated the silver display. Regardless of turning 42 in the course of the 2025 season, this shouldn’t be held towards him or decelerate his Medicare providers.

And eventually, Browns fav Joe Flacco, age 40, is able to search out AFC North predators and throw it to their defenders every so often.

Anybody of those fading saviors will be discovered throwing his favourite fishing hat into Cleveland’s Lake Erie.

However alas, there’s yet another: soon-to-be 37-year-old Kirk Cousins, at present below contract with the Atlanta Falcons.

The Cousins scenario

The Falcons have an issue with their former beginning quarterback. They’d signed him away from the Minnesota Vikings to the tune of a four-year, $180 million contract for the 2024 season. That was all effective and good and solved Atlanta’s QB challenge.

Picture by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Pictures

However then, low and behold, QB Michael Penix, Jr. of Washington had an amazing Senior Bowl week and elevated his draft inventory from a mid-second spherical decide to being taken by the Falcons with the eighth decide within the 2024 NFL draft. Everybody, together with Cousins, was shocked. Why in heaven’s title would any staff signal one man to an enormous contract slated for 4 years, then draft one other of the identical place that prime within the draft?

On October 20, Penix was inserted in the course of the Falcons’ blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks, finishing one throw for 14 yards. Earlier than the Week 16 matchup towards the New York Soccer Giants, Penix was introduced because the starter after Cousins struggled.

That was the tip of Cousins in Atlanta, as he didn’t play any of the remaining video games.

Cousins is scheduled to make his assured 2025 wage of $27.5 million with a $40 million cap hit. After this upcoming season, there’s an opt-out clause, however primarily, he’s on the books with Atlanta in 2027 for $57.5 million with an choice yr in 2028.

Nice googly moogly.

At this level, the Falcons have three choices with Cousins: 1) do nothing and hold him on the roster, 2) commerce him, and three) launch him.

This Sunday, there’s a contract set off. If Cousins is on the roster, he’s due $10 million by way of a roster bonus.

Nevertheless, the Falcons have found that within the present state of NFL beginning quarterbacks, there’s a want for veteran bridge quarterbacks. Cousins suits into that class. A man that has performed fairly a bit, had some success, isn’t a game-destroyer, and might are available for a couple of years and assist groom a younger quarterback.

Atlanta sees this in Cousins. They not view him as their starter, however they’re answerable for his future, and if one other staff desires him – such because the Cleveland Browns – then get able to pay up.

Enter the Browns

Out of all of the eventualities, Cleveland views Cousins as their reply for the following two years. However Atlanta has different choices, specifically the Pittsburgh Steelers, who’re in the same plight because the Browns with out a beginning signalcaller.

The quarterback musical chairs are working out. Groups can signal the traditional class for top {dollars} or commerce for Cousins. Does anybody imagine that Rodgers will play for affordable? His cap hit with the New York Jets final season was $17.16 million. Maybe Flacco and Wilson gained’t break the financial institution, however are they really the reply? For 2 years?

The Falcons will not be going to let Cousins go for pennies on the greenback. They’ve a commodity, they usually imagine one other staff pays nicely for his providers regardless of being benched this previous season.

Might they put the squeeze on Cleveland? Would they use Pittsburgh or one other membership as leverage to drive up his value? With the Browns, head coach Kevin Stefanski is already acquainted with Cousins having labored along with the Minnesota Vikings.

Cousins desires to be an NFL starter. He won’t complain if Atlanta provides him a clipboard to maintain him busy throughout video games, however he’s a participant and never an data taker. Releasing him outright doesn’t assist Atlanta, they usually don’t have any inclination to help one other membership with their beginning quarterback points.

Picture by Ethan Miller/Getty Pictures

Proper now, Atlanta’s goal seems to be the Browns. If they’ll work out a possible commerce for the veteran and get Cleveland to just accept the ultimate years of his contract together with taking over his wage, then Berry ought to be capable of work out a deal.

In the meantime, the traditional ones have come to Berea to see the panorama and speak with coaches and the entrance workplace. It simply could be for present, but it surely additionally might turn into a actuality if the Falcons ask an excessive amount of for Cousins or gained’t budge on buying and selling his rights.

There may be an exit technique right here for the Browns. Berry should provide some form of asset the Falcons can be proud of. And with possession of 10 draft picks, together with three within the prime 64, that appears very possible certainly, as the vast majority of Cleveland’s picks are ranked excessive.

One factor is for sure: the Browns can not open coaching camp with Pickett because the assumed starter and a fourth-round rookie as his backup.