Feb. 7, 2026, 4:30 p.m. ET
The Atlanta Falcons are expected to cut Kirk Cousins before the new league year, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Per Schefter, Cousins still wants to play, though a career in television or retirement are still on the table. Where else could Cousins play next season? We could imagine Cousins having some suitors once free agency opens in March.
What teams make sense for the veteran quarterback, who won his last four games in a Falcons uniform and still showed an ability to run an NFL offense with decent success?
Let’s run down some possible teams that could interest Cousins in continuing his NFL career.
Minnesota Vikings
A Vikings reunion just makes too much sense for Cousins and Minnesota, especially with the franchise expected to find veteran competition for J.J. McCarthy. If Cousins is comfortable with giving McCarthy a run for his money, returning to Minnesota is probably the veteran quarterback’s best option to keep his NFL career going.
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Cleveland Browns
If Cousins wants a guaranteed starting job, Cleveland might be the best place to find one that’s not the New York Jets. While that’s obviously a low bar, Cousins could give coach Todd Monken a reliable veteran to usher in this new era of Browns football. Cleveland is a bit short on offensive help, which might push Cousins in another direction.
New York Jets
Speaking of the Jets, New York probably would be thrilled to have Cousins on the roster. Cousins is far less high-maintenance than Aaron Rodgers was as far as former veteran starters go, and he’d inherit a solid offensive roster with the Jets. If New York had interest, Cousins would give the team an intriguing answer at quarterback in 2026.
Arizona Cardinals
We’re not sure what the future holds for quarterback Kyler Murray in Arizona. However, Cousins is an ideal fit to run the Shanahan/McVay-style offense new Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur will most likely run in the desert. If Arizona trades Murray, Cousins could step right in and give Arizona at least a year of stability at quarterback for LaFleur.
Pittsburgh Steelers
If Aaron Rodgers retires, the Steelers could pivot to Cousins as their 2026 starter. He’d give Mike McCarthy a reliable option at quarterback to kick off his first year in Pittsburgh. We bet Cousins wouldn’t hate this idea.