The Los Angeles Rams could make a move for this veteran quarterback this offseason if this one condition is met.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is set to enter his 18th NFL season and his sixth in Los Angeles.
Stafford is coming off an MVP season, winning his first of his career. The 38-year-old set career highs and played the best football he has in his illustrious career. With being in the presumed final year of his contract, his football career beyond 2026 is unclear.
There is a lot of uncertainty in that department, which is why the Rams might address finding his successor this offseason. Los Angeles will have plenty of options to choose from via the draft, but there is a chance they could go the free agency route.
One name that the Rams could go after is veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. A source close to the Rams said that Cousins might have interest in playing for head coach Sean McVay, if the expectation is that he will be Stafford's successor.
The source stated that Cousins' main objective as his career winds down is to win a championship. While the Rams would have a reliable quarterback behind Stafford, he wouldn't be that much younger than Stafford.
Cousins is 37 years old, but he would give the Rams a veteran presence — someone who has played in big, meaningful games throughout his career. Stafford's injury history might also play a big part in warranting some caution.
Cousins has familiarity with McVay's system and expressed interest in a championship-contending team, making him a logical option. The Pro Bowl quarterback played under McVay, where he thrived in the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
In 32 games that season as the starting quarterback, Cousins established himself as a dependable signal caller. In those two seasons under McVay, Cousins recorded 785 completions with a completion percentage of 68.3 percent, threw for 9,083 yards, 54 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, a 99.3 passer rating, and a 67.8 QBR.
Cousins earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2016.
There is certainly some familiarity with Cousins. If the Rams decide to take a chance on him, he'd sign a short-term deal, potentially a one or two-year deal.
Cousins' tenure with the Atlanta Falcons did not go as planned after he signed a four-year, $180 million contract that he signed in 2024. The contract included $100 million in guaranteed money, and the Falcons later designated his 2026 release as a post-June 1 move to help manage the salary cap.
There is a slight chance the Rams could make a move on Cousins, and it would make some sense.