Kooser Strikes Again: Bengals' Trade Bid for Top Free Agency

The Cincinnati Bengals have a firm plan at quarterback behind Joe Burrow right now: Josh Johnson is back as a stopgap before they hope to get Joe Flacco back in the mix. There hasn’t really been another reason to chat about the position much. The Bengals want a starter-caliber backup like Flacco if possible and enjoy the luxury of being a premier spot for backups, given the presence of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

But a new idea has thrown the whole thing for a loop. Jacob Camenker of USA Today has suggested the Bengals might actually make sense as a top landing spot for Kirk Cousins: “Cousins would provide the Bengals a steady hand behind Burrow in the event the No. 1 pick from the 2020 NFL Draft is banged up again.

If he isn't granted an opportunity to compete for a starting job, he could relish a chance to play with a strong stable of weapons highlighted by Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. ” It was easy to assume Cousins would just get a starting job somewhere and call it a day. But… the quarterback market has been weird.

Kyler Murray, with plenty more upside, just signed a veteran minimum contract. There just might not be all that much room for veteran starters left before a draft class enters the league. That includes Cousins, who will turn 38 in August and is the top veteran on the market at the spot.