Why the Browns Should Pass on Kirk Cousins - Even With a QB Question Still Looming
The Cleveland Browns walked into the 2025 offseason with a clear need at quarterback. Fast forward a year, and that need hasn’t exactly disappeared - but the landscape around it has shifted dramatically.
Which brings us to Kirk Cousins.
Once upon a time, a Cousins-to-Cleveland move made all the sense in the world. Back when Kevin Stefanski was still running the show, the idea of reuniting him with his former Vikings quarterback felt like a logical, plug-and-play solution. Cousins had thrived under Stefanski in Minnesota, and with the Falcons seemingly ready to cut ties, it looked like a reunion was just waiting to happen.
But that was then. This is now - and now, the Browns should steer clear.
Let’s start with what Cousins still brings to the table. Even at 37, he showed flashes of the steady, efficient passer he’s always been.
He completed 61.7% of his throws for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2025, helping Atlanta to a 5-3 start. That’s not nothing, especially in a league where quarterback play is at a premium.
But context matters. The Browns are undergoing a philosophical shift on offense under new coordinator Todd Monken. Monken is known for his adaptability - he’s run vertical systems in Tampa Bay and leaned into the ground game in Baltimore - but his recent track record shows he’s best at developing younger quarterbacks, not squeezing the last drops out of aging veterans.
Cousins isn’t a long-term answer, and bringing him in now might be more of a roadblock than a solution. If Cleveland were a quarterback away - if everything else was humming and they just needed a steady hand under center - maybe you could make the case.
But this roster has multiple areas that need attention. Committing significant cap space to a short-term fix at quarterback doesn’t align with where the Browns are right now.
And speaking of cap space - the Browns aren’t exactly flush with it. They’ve already been juggling contracts and cap hits, and adding a veteran like Cousins would likely require a bidding war. That’s a tough sell when you’re already paying Deshaun Watson and just spent a draft pick on Shedeur Sanders.
Watson and Sanders appear to be the duo set to battle it out for the starting job in 2026. That’s not the most stable scenario, but it’s the reality in Cleveland.
The Browns cycled through eight quarterbacks last season - yes, eight - between current and former players. Adding another veteran to that carousel, especially one with a hefty price tag and limited upside, feels like more of the same.
Cousins will land somewhere this offseason. There are teams that need a bridge quarterback, a steady veteran who can keep the offense on schedule while a younger player develops.
But Cleveland isn’t in that spot. They’re not just a quarterback away, and they’re not in position to overpay for a short-term patch.
The Browns have made their share of questionable quarterback calls over the years. This time, the smart move is the one they don’t make. Let Cousins walk - and focus on building for the future.