ESPN’s Bill Barnwell lists the Green Bay Packers as the perfect spot for Kirk Cousins. Jordan Love missed two games in the past two seasons. So, coach Matt LaFleur wants the perfect Malik Willis replacement for Love.Cousins has earned more than $321 million over the course of his career. He is a first-ballot Bag Hall of Famer, so he does not need to play for money. It’s about what he wants to do with the team he plays with. Is it to have the best opportunity to play? Or to win a Super Bowl before retiring? Let’s unearth the answers.
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins projected for Steelers, Packers, 49ers, and Browns
If it is to have the best opportunity to play? Then Mike McCarthy’s Pittsburgh Steelers are the best option, with rookie Will Howard as the starter and Aaron Rodgers as unconfirmed. Cousins might find an opportunity to play alongside the rookie.If not there, then the Cleveland Browns. There are two rookies [Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel] there who are entering their second year. And one injured player, Deshaun Watson, who missed one whole season. So, Cousins could be like Joe Flacco [potential high-level veteran] for Cleveland.Or if the ex-Minnesota QB’s wish is to achieve a Super Bowl before retiring, then Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers are the best bet, but then they probably wouldn’t want to leave their favorite backup, Mac Jones. The next and best in line are the Green Bay Packers.Barnwell suggests Cousins could be a solid replacement for Malik Willis in the Packers. However, he is different from Willis. Heavy Sports’ Dave Holcomb reports that Cousins is a statue in the pocket compared to the ultra-athletic Willis. This matches the style of their starter, Jordan Love.
Kirk Cousins as backup or bridge starter for Jordan Love
NFL Network’s Gregg Rosenthal reports the Atlanta Falcons QB looked better another year removed from Achilles surgery. “He remains too hesitant to stand in against pressure,” but he can handle a matchup at a high-level backup or a bridge starter.Kirk entered the NFL as a backup to Robert Griffin III with the Washington Redskins. In his fourth season, he became a full-time starter [2015]. Since then, he has been one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league. He earned $100 million playing two seasons for the Falcons.Spotrac projects him signing a one-year, $10 million contract, giving him an average annual salary of $10 million. The Packers have approx. $24 million to $30 million in salary cap space for 2026. They can accommodate Cousins.He very well wanted to play for 2026. He even told Yahoo Sports Daily’s Caroline Fenton during the Super Bowl that he has a lot of football left in him.Watching his drive at 37 to play as well as Detroit Lions’ Jared Goff and New York Giants’ Jaxson Dart in 2025, Green Bay’s coach Matt LaFleur and QB Jordan Love can trust motivated Cousins to be the best safety blanket in an already thin free agent market. The competition could not have been any harsher for Cousins. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is available for trade. ESPN’s Stephen Holder reports there are interested teams, but one team that stands out is Green Bay.
