Arthur Blank and Raheem Morris aren’t exactly speaking in riddles. The Falcons’ owner and head coach have made one thing clear—Kirk Cousins is available, but on their terms. Blank kept it vague (“At the end of the day, what happens happens”), while Morris took a more human approach, saying they’d like to see him land in a good spot “if the opportunity presents itself.” Translation? If a team calls, Atlanta’s picking up the phone.

Now, this isn’t how the Falcons envisioned Year 1 of the four-year, $180 million Cousins era. But after an 18-touchdown, 16-interception campaign that saw him lead the league in picks and get benched for rookie Michael Penix Jr., reality hit fast. The Falcons took Penix eighth overall for a reason. And when they handed him the starting job in week 16, Cousins’ future in Atlanta became a question of “when,” not “if.”

So, since the offseason hit and the Falcons gave the green signal to Cousins for trade, the possibility of a move to Cleveland has opened up. See, the thing is, it aligns all too perfectly with the Browns staring at a quarterback room held together by wishful thinking and medical tape. Deshaun Watson? Two Achilles injuries in three months. Kenny Pickett? A Steelers castoff who barely lasted a year in Pittsburgh. So, if the Dawg Pound still wants to believe that the team can keep pace in the AFC North, they need a competent veteran.

That’s where ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky is preaching to the Browns why Cousins is their guy. “I think Kirk Cousins will eventually be with the Cleveland Browns,” he said on The Pat McAfee Show.

The fit makes sense. The Browns have a loaded roster—a top defense, solid weapons, and a head coach who knows how to work with veteran QBs. All they need is stability under center. But the issue? Money. Atlanta still owes Cousins $27.5 million next season, and his contract has offset language that could make things tricky. If Atlanta wants to move him, they’ll likely have to eat some of that salary—and according to The Athletic’s Josh Kendall, they might be willing to do just that.

Cousins, for his part, isn’t slamming the door on a move. He has a no-trade clause, but reports suggest he’d waive it for the right team. And Cleveland? That might just be his best shot at staying relevant in 2025. And as Dan said, they might have a chance if “you have Kirk Cousins as your starting quarterback and draft Travis Hunter with the second pick.” 

But if not Kirk Cousins, then a rookie?

Not just any rookie. Shedeur Sanders. The son of Prime Time himself. Dan Orlovsky is sold on him, saying, “Shedeur consistently makes the right throw and he’s tough as nails… He’s really tough and he’s really smart.” But here’s the thing—his draft stock? It’s falling faster than a botched Hail Mary.

From a potential top pick to top six to some analysts saying he might not even crack Round 1. Believe Orlovsky if you want, but this is the same guy who called Anthony Richardson generational. No shade to AR, but… yeah, we’re still waiting on that.

So, where does that leave the Browns? Staring at a quarterback dilemma. They could trust their $230 million investment in Deshaun Watson to make a miraculous comeback, let Shedeur sit and learn, and hope for the best. Or they could give Cousins a one-year redemption tour, bridge the gap while Watson recovers, and see if the veteran can get them over the hump. It’s a classic high-risk, high-reward situation.

Cousins, at least, give them something stable. He’s a 14-year vet who can still sling it, even if his Falcons stint didn’t end as planned. Let’s be real, Cleveland isn’t in the business of “waiting.” That defense is championship-ready right now. If they roll with a rookie, they better be sure he’s NFL-ready from Day 1.

And that’s the real question—is Shedeur ready? His college tape is promising. 4,134 yards, 37 TDs, 10 INTs in 2024, with a 75.5 QBR. But transitioning from Colorado’s system to the NFL? That’s a different beast. If the Browns draft him, are they ready to hand him the keys immediately?

So, Cleveland, what’s it gonna be? Cousins for now? Or Sanders for the future? This decision is either just about a good 2025 season or it could shape the Browns’ next decade.