3. Kirk Cousins
This one only makes sense if the Joe Burrow injury is season-threatening. That doesn’t appear to be the case right now, but stranger things have happened. Cousins looked like a shell of himself for most of the 2024 season, but he was also coming off a season-ending Achilles injury. While first-round pick Michael Penix is the unquestioned QB1 in Atlanta, Cousins may have more gas in his tank now that he’s a full season removed from his injury.
At his best, Kirk Cousins was a borderline top-10 quarterback who wouldn’t elevate a team on his own, but could lead a high-powered offense if surrounded by the right pieces. Cincinnati has those pieces, as the wide receiver duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins is second to none. The Bengals might have to get creative to make the money work, but Cousins could keep their season alive if the Joe Burrow injury ends up being more serious than initially believed.
