The Washington Commanders have a lot of needs to fill this offseason. One of them might be the backup quarterback position.
Marcus Mariota is set to hit free agency. After his performances in Jayden Daniels' absence last year, he might be looking for an opportunity as a bridge starter. That will leave Washington searching for a new veteran to hold the clipboard, and one option can't be ignored.
That would be Kirk Cousins, who spent the first six seasons of his NFL career in the nation's capital. He'll be back on the market when his release from the Atlanta Falcons is confirmed in the coming days, and Brian Mitchell hinted at openness toward a potential reunion.
Commanders' potential reunion with Kirk Cousins brings nostalgia, but it seems unlikely
On 106.7 The Fan's B-Mitch And Finlay Show, Mitchell claimed that Cousins is the best available free agent quarterback on the market, ahead of names such as Geno Smith, Tua Tagovailoa, and Kyler Murray. JP Finlay concurred, and the scenario raises an interesting potential for Washington.
Kirk Cousins is the clear best veteran free agent quarterback option according to BMitch, with Geno Smith comes, Tua Tagovailoa, and Kyler Murray checking in behind. #NFL #Quarterbacks #KirkCousins #GenoSmith #TuaTagovailoa #KylerMurray pic.twitter.com/DEn6bJgxve
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) March 2, 2026
There are still several reasons why a return to Washington for Cousins would be unlikely. First off, the Commanders aren't looking to spend big on their backup. They can find a cheap veteran to do exactly what Mariota did last year, such as Tyrod Taylor or Tyler Huntley.
The Commanders will also probably desire a backup whose skillset is similar to Daniels'. That way, new offensive coordinator David Blough doesn't have to change his offense too much should they need to step in. A mobile quarterback would be ideal, and Cousins is certainly not that.
Finally, one has to believe that the former Michigan State star still thinks he can start in the NFL.
After looking finished in 2024, Cousins had a solid bounce-back year in 2025 while leading the Falcons on a late-season rally. His agent, Mike McCartney, has been quite the salesman throughout his career and will likely do everything he can to land him another bag.
The appeal of bringing Cousins back to Washington would be as a clubhouse leader who can continue mentoring Daniels. The Commanders need to get younger, but you can afford to have an old guy in a position where you're not expecting him to play much, if at all.
Such a scenario would also provide closure from one of Dan Snyder's costliest mistakes. The Commanders are a totally different organization from the one that botched Cousins' contract talks nearly a decade ago, and the quarterback has always spoken highly of his time in Washington.
Still, it seems like a total pipe dream. Cousins will have a new home in 2026, but it would be shocking if it's back in D.C.