Could Kirk Cousins be the missing piece in Cleveland?
As training camp nears, the Browns are staring down a quarterback room that’s crowded, uncertain, and far from championship-ready. But with Cousins reportedly “a little bit misled” by the Atlanta Falcons, speculation is heating up and Cleveland might just be the ideal reset.
Why Are the Cleveland Browns Being Linked to Kirk Cousins?
In a bold projection that’s picking up traction, Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski named the Browns as a potential landing spot for Cousins and pointed directly at their shaky quarterback depth chart as justification.
“If the Cleveland Browns are serious about winning this season, a Cousins acquisition remains on the table,” Sobleski wrote. “Right now, the organization doesn’t have a legitimate plan at the quarterback position. The Browns have four signal-callers on the roster with the potential to start, which means they don’t have a legitimate starter in the mix.”
Sobleski points to Joe Flacco as the likeliest short-term option, but he doesn’t offer much long-term promise at 40 years old and coming off a forgettable stint with the Colts. Kenny Pickett, meanwhile, is still trying to shed the “first-round bust” label from his time in Pittsburgh.
Cleveland’s front office could cut both veterans with minimal cap damage, freeing up room to take on a portion of Cousins’ $27.5 million base salary if Atlanta is open to a move. The Browns also have rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the mix, but neither is expected to make a starting leap yet.
What Would Kirk Cousins Bring to Cleveland’s Offense?
Cousins, even at 36, remains a capable starter when healthy. He completed 66.9% of his passes for 3,508 yards and 18 touchdowns last season in Atlanta, despite a messy year that included a late-season benching.
A reunion with head coach Kevin Stefanski, who oversaw some of Cousins’ best years in Minnesota, could give the Browns the stability they’ve lacked at quarterback.
With elite talent like Myles Garrett, Joel Bitonio, and David Njoku still in their prime, Cleveland isn’t rebuilding; they’re trying to win now. Cousins could bring immediate structure and competence to an offense desperately needing it.
The Falcons haven’t indicated they’re shopping Cousins, but the tension exists. The veteran QB has already acknowledged his mistrust in the organization, and Atlanta seems committed to handing the keys to rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. sooner rather than later.
For the Browns, the calculus is simple: Either ride into camp with a muddled four-way battle, or pick up the phone and inquire about the $180 million quarterback who knows how to operate in Stefanski’s system.
This may be the window to act if Cleveland wants to be taken seriously in the AFC playoff race.