Cleveland Browns TRADE for Kirk Cousins? ESPN proposes wild deal to shake up Browns QB room

ESPN dropped a wild hypothetical: the Cleveland Browns trading for Kirk Cousins in a deal that would send Kenny Pickett, a 2026 sixth-rounder, and some cash to Atlanta. The Falcons, in turn, would throw in a seventh-rounder and cover a chunk of Cousins’ guaranteed salary for 2025. On paper, it sounds like a reunion play—Kevin Stefanski and Cousins have history from their days together in Minnesota, and with Deshaun Watson sidelined for the season, Cleveland could lean on a proven veteran to keep the train moving.

But this ain’t Madden. Cousins is 37, coming off a rough year where he threw 16 picks and got benched in Atlanta. There’s also a $10 million roster bonus coming in 2026, and the Browns already got a $230M Watson deal weighing down their cap. You throw Cousins into a room that already has Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and two rookies in Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel… and it starts to feel messy. How much growth do you sacrifice from the young guys just to rent a familiar face? It’s an eye-catching headline—but in reality, it might create more problems than it solves.

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33 comments

  5. If the Browns did this it tells me they believe they can win. I like that. I'm tired of listening to these guys, especially Jason Lloyd, talk about tanking. Coaches and players don't want to hear that crap.

  7. Really this channel is terrible anyone wanting a broken down Kirk Cousins is an idiot. Shedeur ended up with the worst fan base in the NFL no appreciation for the greatness that is about to happen😂.

  9. I dont think kirk is better than joe at this point of his career. Flacco would still be the best qb, but kirk would be a great qb2 unless gabriel could beat him out too

  12. The Browns is going to play Dillon and Shedeur see who more chance to build the offense and draft Jeremiah Smith, if both are no good then the Browns will have to draft a qb again

  15. I like Kirk but he had a major arm/shoulder injury last season where his ball velocity dropped to a poor 39 mph. If his arm strength is back to pre-injury, I wouldn't mind this but at this point I'd rather stick with Flacco who has been healthy with his arm as strong as ever.

  16. I think the Browns are in love with the ideal of drafting QBs . While other organizations build around the QBs they have . Championships teams are built around rookie contracts not over priced veteran QBs that bounce from team to team

  22. Ok yall just farming for clicks now 🤣🤣🤣, Pickett is the projected starter but now he’s getting traded for KC 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣….

  26. Please take these guys microphones “if by some chance lightning strikes” on sheduer guys he was the best qb in college football and is by far the best qb on this roster….

  29. Why would the Browns want Cousins now ? I was all in on picking him up earlier not now play the best one we have now on our roster now .

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