The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves navigating uncertain waters at quarterback despite Mike Tomlin’s continued success as head coach.
While Aaron Rodgers speculation continues to swirl around the franchise, another veteran has emerged in trade discussions that has former players weighing in.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers standout Ryan Clark recently addressed the growing chatter about Kirk Cousins potentially serving as a backup plan on NFL Live.
His assessment was blunt and unforgiving.
“The last time I checked, Allen Iverson was the answer because it sure ain’t Kirk Cousins. And I understand what Jeremy (Fowler) might be hearing, and it does seem like the eventual next step if you can’t get Aaron Rodgers. But what makes you think that Kirk Cousins is going to be better than Mason Rudolph? What makes you think that Kirk Cousins’ arm is more lively, or he can maneuver in the pocket better – he can’t,” Clark said.
“The last time I checked, Allen Iverson was the answer because it sure ain’t Kirk Cousins.” 😯
—@Realrclark25 on Kirk Cousins not being the answer at QB for the Steelers pic.twitter.com/3KaAlkc9cv
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 27, 2025
Clark understands the logic behind considering Cousins as a fallback option if Rodgers remains unavailable.
However, he remains unconvinced about the veteran’s potential impact in Pittsburgh.
The former safety believes the team faces a binary choice: pursue Rodgers aggressively or accept the current situation while focusing on finding a franchise quarterback in next year’s draft.
The Cousins situation gained momentum after Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris confirmed Tuesday that the veteran was absent from voluntary offseason team activities.
Cousins lost his starting role to rookie Michael Penix Jr. last season and reportedly wants out of Atlanta despite signing a massive four-year, $180 million contract just one year ago.
The Falcons remain committed to a substantial asking price in potential trade discussions.
Pittsburgh continues exploring their options as they attempt to solidify the quarterback position before the upcoming season.
