Kirk Cousins, a former Michigan State University quarterback, is now a free agent in the NFL after 14 years in the league. Cousins most recently played as the quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons for two seasons before parting ways with the club at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.
So, would Cousins ever travel to Michigan to spend the final years of his NFL career with the Detroit Lions? The Lions already have a franchise quarterback in Jared Goff, but they might benefit from a stronger quarterback room. Even though they added backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater during the NFL offseason, they could use another excellent name on the roster, and Cousins would provide that, albeit at a very expensive cost.
Cousins first agreed to a four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons, with $100 million guaranteed and a $45 million average annual value, according to Spotrac statistics, so his asking price is considerable.
Detroit Lions analyst supports the concept of Kirk Cousins joining the club.
In a Wednesday, April 1 piece for Detroit Jock City, Andrew Hughes discusses the possibility of bringing Cousins to the Lions. He observes that the team’s backup quarterback situation is not excellent for the 2026-27 season.
“Even though (Teddy) Bridgewater has a lot of experience (65 career starts), his mobility is far from what it was since an ACL injury with the Minnesota Vikings in 2016, which limits his abilities at the position,” he said in the article. “He was never a gunslinger, so athleticism always allowed him to find guys on checkdowns. At this point, he is a shell of his former self and hasn’t started a game since 2022. Well, labeling him a “shell” is a little harsh, but we understand his point.
Hughes also questions if Bridgewater “could handle the wear and tear of a full season. ” So, he recommends that the Lions choose between a rookie quarterback in the draft to develop and a seasoned one, like Cousins.
“The Atlanta Falcons announced Kirk Cousins for a June 1 release last month, and he is currently seeking for employment,” he adds. “Although he is in demand, the Lions would do well to inquire, particularly since there is an evident link to the coaching staff. “
Kirk Cousins Has a Relationship with the Detroit Lions
So, what is the connection? The Detroit Lions’ new offensive coordinator, Drew Petzing, worked with Cousins in 2018, when Petzing was the Vikings’ assistant quarterbacks coach.
“Even if Cousins is a long shot, the Lions cannot ignore the fact that their QB2 problem remains unresolved,” Hughes writes. “It’s in their best interest to leave no stone unturned in order to find a genuine backup for Goff, or else the Lions will be asking for difficulties if Bridgewater is their primary insurance policy. “
So, with the 2026-27 NFL season approaching, Cousins still needs a team, and the Lions might clearly benefit from having him on the roster. But, he would be quite costly, and given the Lions’ propensity for being frugal with their roster, it would be unusual to see this move occur.
