Pittsburgh Kirk Cousins and the Pittsburgh Steelers have been connected all offseason, but up until this point, it didn’t seem like a viable option for them. But the team may be positioning itself to go big with the Minnesota passer after hiring Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator.
This spring, Cousins will be a highly sought-after quarterback, with several teams probably vying for the services of the four-time Pro Bowler. Even for a 36-year-old who is recovering from an Achilles ailment, whoever makes a move for Cousins is going to be looking at a huge contract. He will, however, receive offers in free agency given his track record and NFL performance.
Numerous newspapers have mentioned the Steelers as a possible destination for Cousins, but former Pro Bowler Chris Long feels the organisation has the ideal structure after signing Smith.
Speaking on the Green Light Podcast, Long stated, “I think he’s a guy Pittsburgh can look at.” Additionally, I’m curious if this step helps them consider the possibility that they have a wild card quarterback in mind that they could target or acquire. And perhaps that man is Kirk Cousins.”
Long’s logic is straightforward: there ought to be more play-action since Smith is the OC. And who did the league’s best in play-action last season, you ask? Minnesota Vikings and cousins.
“He’s made a lot of his hay over the course of his career turning his back to the defence, gathering his feet, and delivering and firing downfield,” Long said.
Under Smith, the Steelers should rely more on their running game, which means they’ll be using play-action much more frequently. In addition, they surround the quarterback with an abundance of weapons, so perhaps—just possibly—Cousins is prepared to make a statement with them.
“I think Kirk Cousins, as his career has gone on, people have appreciated him more appropriately as maybe not an elite quarterback, but somebody you can definitely win with,” Long stated. “And if you have a run game, you can win with it. If play-action is a factor, Kirk Cousins can lead you to victory. And I look at the Tennessee [Titans] model if you are Arthur Smith. George Pickens is your personal version of an A.J. Brown.
He may not be A.J. Brown, but I believe he has a wide range of potential. And with Najee Harris, you have your own rendition of Derrick Henry. Although he is not Derrick Henry, you do have a powerful running back and an extremely skilled wide receiver, so I believe he can look at the team’s core and say, “Hey, we can win this way, with this formula.”
