A question facing the Green Bay Packers ahead of the draft is who'll be the primary backup behind Jordan Love after losing Malik Willis to the Miami Dolphins.
With the free-agent pool quickly shrinking, the Packers are running out of viable options. Sure, they could invest a draft pick in a quarterback, but would they feel truly comfortable rolling with a rookie signal-caller if Love had to sit out a few games?
The silver lining is that Green Bay still has a few options left (but not too many) in the open market, and Matt Schneidman of The Athletic just brought up a wild but intriguing option: Kirk Cousins.
Kirk Cousins remains a potential backup QB option for Packers
Schneidman recently discussed seven unsigned free agents the Packers could pursue to fix their biggest roster voids. At quarterback, he suggested Green Bay sign Kirk Cousins to back up Love, arguing that neither Desmond Ridder nor Kyle McCord is a particularly enticing option.
"The idea of adding a proven veteran like Cousins, who can at least help the Packers tread water if Love goes down, might entice head coach Matt LaFleur," Schneidman wrote. "Cousins might (understandably) want to sign with a team whose starter is less entrenched than Love, but perhaps the idea of reuniting with his position coach from his first two years in the NFL (LaFleur) entices him, too."
Packers fans best know Cousins as the quarterback Green Bay had to face off against twice a season from 2018 to 2023. But after a six-year stint with the Vikes, he bolted for the Atlanta Falcons, signing a four-year deal worth $180 million. However, things didn't pan out the way the four-time Pro Bowl nod expected.
Cousins signed with the Falcons with the expectation that they weren't going to draft a quarterback but felt misled when they drafted Michael Penix Jr. in 2024. The fact that he was still recovering from an Achilles injury he had suffered the year prior also prevented him from firmly entrenching himself as the starter.
Fast forward to 2026, and Atlanta cut ties with Cousins after two underwhelming seasons. And after the initial free agency spending, he remains available in the open market. This is a bit surprising when you take into account that the demand for quarterbacks in the NFL outweighs the supply. Yet, the 2012 fourth-round pick has been unable to find a new home.
This begs the question, should the Packers kick the tires on Cousins?
Why signing Kirk Cousins makes sense for the Packers (despite two roadblocks)
Anthony Richardson has been floated as a potential backup for Love. When you take into account that Willis enjoyed a career renaissance under head coach Matt LaFleur, the possibility shouldn't be ruled out.
After all, Richardson has struggled to stay healthy, but his immense potential has yet to be unlocked. He would most definitely give LaFleur an intriguing reclamation project to work with, but if Green Bay is looking for a proven commodity, Cousins would make sense.
Although Cousins is past his prime, he could still come off the bench and keep the Packers afloat if Love were to miss time. On the other hand, a couple of roadblocks could prevent Green Bay from making a run for him.
For starters, it's hard to tell if Cousins would be willing to take on a backup role. He won't get on the field unless it's for mop-up duty or if Love is unable to play. The second biggest hurdle to taking a flyer on the 14-year vet would be his salary demands. At this point of his career, he's surely aware that he can no longer charge retail rates for his services and must instead settle for whatever a team offers.
Of course, Cousins would command more than the veteran's minimum, but he may need to settle on a deal that pays him $8 million to $10 million per year. That's not precisely chump change, but it would ensure that the Packers have protection in case Love goes down *knocks on wood*. Whether he or the Packers think that amount would get a deal done remains to be seen.
For the time being, it's fair to say that signing the quarterback who once suited up for the dreaded rival Vikings wouldn't be an outlandish idea.