And if Cousins makes it to free agency on March 13, there will be no shortage of suitors for his services, even though he will be 36 years old by the start of next season and is coming off a season-ending injury.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero thinks the Denver Broncos could even pursue Cousins.
“All options are on the table for the Broncos at quarterback,” Pelissero said on “The Rich Eisen Show” on February 23. “I would think that they’re going to look at all these free agent quarterbacks. I wouldn’t even rule out the possibility that the Broncos would make a run at Kirk Cousins.
Pelissero believes former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, who led them to two Super Bowls, winning one, could steer the charge.
Payton is going into his second season as Broncos head coach.
“Sean Payton is going to want somebody,” Pelissero said. “If he believes Kirk Cousins gives him the best chance to compete in a really, really tough division … I wouldn’t take anything off the table.”
The Broncos have “somebody”: Russell Wilson. He is under contract for five more years at $242.6 million total.
But he and Payton had contentious sideline interactions last season.
Payton also benched Wilson. While all parties – including General Manager George Paton – have left the door open for Wilson to return next season, the expectation around the league is that the Broncos will cut the quarterback at some point this offseason.
That decision could come by Mary 17. That is when Wilson’s $35 million salary for 2025 becomes fully guaranteed.
It is also four days after Cousins will have officially hit free agency, putting the Vikings in a bind.
