Browns Insider Unveils Major Kirk Cousins Update

Despite rumors linking the Browns to Kirk Cousins, bringing the 36-year-old to Cleveland is more complicated than it seems

Dec 16, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) warms up before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

It may be time to cross yet another quarterback option off the Cleveland Browns wish list.

Amidst plenty of rumors linking the franchise to Atlanta Falcons veteran Kirk Cousins this offseason, Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot called Cousins landing in Cleveland, "a long shot" in a newly shared clip from her Orange and Brown Talk podcast.

"You can't rule anything out at this point," she bagan. "But I still think that that's a little bit of a longshot. You have to satisfy three different entities. You have the satisfy the Cleveland Browns, you have to satisfy the Falcons and you have to satisfy Kirk Cousins with a number of things that have to gel together and come together.

"At this point I'm going to stick with what I have been saying, that I do think that is unlikely at this point in time."

From our Monday pod: What’s the deal with the #Browns and Kirk Cousins? pic.twitter.com/16OLVj6nq4
— Orange and Brown Talk (@orangebrowntalk) April 8, 2025

As things stand right now, Cousins isn't expected to force the issue on a trade until after the NFL Draft, when he can exercise his no-trade-clause to really dictate where he wants to go.

If the Browns are hoping to wait out Cousins, it likely means they have to build their draft plans around the 36-year-old. That probably means purposefully passing on a quarterback early in the draft.

Other complications follow, however, as Cleveland would still have to put together the right trade package to get Atlanta to ship him to Northeast Ohio.

To Cabot's point, there are frankly a lot of hurdles to clear to make Cousins to Cleveland a thing. Perhaps even too many for it to be realistic.

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