We are nearing the start of the new league year and have two full days of the legal tampering period behind us. The Cleveland Browns have made one move at quarterback and it came via a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles to land Kenny Pickett.
Cleveland still needs to bring in a bridge-type quarterback to run through the season with while they sit a rookie and potentially see what Pickett can do.
Some names exist out there to sign, but many believe that the Browns are waiting on a certain quarterback.
Cleveland Browns waiting on QB Kirk Cousins is a risk they may be taking
The Browns have been the team most linked to Kirk Cousins if the Atlanta Falcons look to move on from him. A soft deadline for that to happen is by Sunday when a $10 million 2026 roster bonus becomes guaranteed for him with the Falcons. If Atlanta is going to release Cousins, it may come before then.
Players like Joe Flacco, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers (to a lesser extent), and Gardner Minshew are out there that may fit the bridge mold. These options are going to dry up as time goes on, which is the risk the Browns are taking if they’re waiting for the Cousins situation to play out.
Atlanta could see it worth guaranteeing the 2026 bonus if they think they can trade him at some point later, perhaps after the draft. The Falcons have stated that Cousins is in their plans to be the backup, but no one around the league actually believes that is going to happen.
Cousins’ past relationship with Kevin Stefanski from Stefanski’s final years in Minnesota with the Vikings is the connecting point here. Cousins played well under Stefanski and could regain some prior form in his offense. The further that Cousins gets away from the Achilles injury could allow him to bounce back. The 18/16 touchdown touchdown-to-interception ratio was ugly for Atlanta last year. If that is the floor for Cousins, it is a player worth taking for the Browns.
Cleveland isn’t going to have to break the bank for Cousins, he is likely signing at his next spot for a minimum contract unless he is traded. Any of that money will be offset from his 2026 guarantees with the Falcons.
Jobs are tied to the quarterback position and the Browns can’t keep getting it wrong there. They’re currently waiting on the day they can get our form under Deshaun Watson. Cleveland needs a fix soon at the most important position in the game and they’re taking a risk by waiting for Cousins. If Cousins doesn’t become available, the Browns may be left wishing they went a different direction.