Cardinals Don't Land Kirk Cousins

The Arizona Cardinals expressed interest in veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins before he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. After previously being linked to Malik Willis and Jimmy Garoppolo, Arizona explored the possibility of adding Cousins to their roster.

Current QB Situation

The Cardinals currently have Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew under contract at quarterback. Adding Cousins would have meant carrying a third, and more expensive, quarterback on a team not currently positioned for a playoff run in 2026.

Financial and Team-Building Considerations

Team officials determined that investing significant funds in Cousins while other roster positions remained unfilled wasn't a sound strategy. Arizona believes it's financially wiser to continue with Brissett and Minshew, potentially supplemented by a quarterback drafted in the future.

Coaching Staff Connection

Despite the logical fit – Cousins previously played under Kyle Shanahan, and current Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur is a Shanahan disciple – the move didn't align with the team's overall plan. From a talent perspective, Cousins would have been the clear starter.

Long-Term Outlook

Analysts questioned whether Cousins could single-handedly lead the Cardinals to a playoff berth in 2026 or serve as a long-term building block for the franchise. The team's timeline and current roster needs didn't support a significant investment in a veteran quarterback at this time.

Donnie Druin is the Publisher for Arizona Cardinals and Phoenix Suns on SI. He has been with the company since 2018 and previously covered the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona State Sun Devils. Follow him on Twitter @DonnieDruin.

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