‘Purchaser Beware’: Chris Simms Cautions Steelers Towards Buying and selling For Kirk Cousins

With Aaron Rodgers retaining them in limbo, the Pittsburgh Steelers are nonetheless with no beginning quarterback. Mike Tomlin appears comfy rolling with Mason Rudolph. Nonetheless, the Steelers’ ceiling with Rudolph beginning doesn’t appear very excessive. In the event that they miss out on Rodgers, maybe the Steelers might pivot to Kirk Cousins. They’d must work out a commerce with the Atlanta Falcons, however Cousins may very well be a greater choice than Rudolph. Nonetheless, Chris Simms believes the Steelers ought to have train warning earlier than buying and selling for Cousins.

“Right here’s the place I’d be slightly apprehensive, purchaser beware, if I used to be making an attempt to get Kirk Cousins, particularly in Pittsburgh,” Simms stated Monday on Professional Soccer Speak. “It’s dangerous. One, you’re gonna have to present property away and commerce. This can be a workforce that we all know might nonetheless want property. They’re not an ideal soccer workforce.

“They’re gonna try this with a man that everyone knows didn’t bodily look the identical final 12 months. The ball fluttered within the air. He was benched for a rookie in the course of a playoff run. That is uncommon stuff. His arm seemed weak, and he threw wobblers that hung up within the air for a part of the 12 months.”

It’s true that Cousins didn’t seem like the identical participant final 12 months. For many of his profession, he’s been a stable starter. Nonetheless, in the course of the 2023 season, he tore his Achilles. He signed an enormous take care of the Falcons final 12 months, but it surely was clear he was nonetheless recovering from that damage.

In 14 video games, Cousins threw for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. That’s a brutal touchdown-to-interception ratio. The Steelers noticed firsthand how Cousins failed to guard the soccer. That’s one factor that Mike Tomlin doubtless received’t tolerate. He places a whole lot of inventory in his quarterback’s ball safety.

There’s some hope that Cousins may very well be higher after one other 12 months faraway from tearing his Achilles. Nonetheless, that’s not assured. He’ll be 37 by the point the 2025 season begins. His finest days are in all probability behind him.

Simms can be right that the Steelers would must half with some draft capital to accumulate Cousins. It looks like the Falcons might wait to maneuver Cousins till after the draft, although. If that finally ends up being the case, the Steelers may very well be extra inclined to make a commerce. They’re slated to obtain a number of compensatory picks subsequent 12 months. That might make them really feel extra comfy parting with draft picks.

Cousins has an enormous contract, so the Steelers would in all probability need the Falcons to eat a few of his wage. It’s robust to justify investing some huge cash in him, on high of parting with draft property.

That is all depending on the Steelers not signing Rodgers. If they’ll lastly get him to comply with a deal, then they received’t want Cousins. It looks like there’s likelihood that occurs, but when it doesn’t, it could be price taking a danger on Cousins. He may very well be their best choice remaining. If he can recapture a few of his earlier skills, he might at the very least be higher than Rudolph.