Washington Redskins and Kirk Cousins: Pawn or Player?

By Ricky Allen

Is Washington Redskins backup QB Kirk Cousins more pawn than player?

Kirk Cousins’ position as a backup is almost an injustice to his college performance. It makes him the most overlooked draft pick in the NFL for any team looking to build around a solid quarterback. 

For any team that didn’t get a QB out of this year’s draft–Well, you must have had your head stuck in the ground like an Ostrich.  This was the year to get one.

Kirk Cousins’ completions, attempts, touchdowns, and yards  increased every year during his time at Michigan State. He averaged about 8 yards a pass, averages about 9-10 interceptions a year for three years.

On the other hand, Kirk’s place on the Redskins roster provides depth at the QB slot that we haven’t had in a long, long time.

I think we can all agree the Redskins sold the farm in order to get the postion needed to grab Robert Griffin III. No matter how risky you thought the deal was, it made sense. The Redskins needed to invest in a quarterback that could give them a good shot at a better season while being marketable enough to grab the attention of free agents.

RG3 has done that. Mission completed.

However, the aquisiton of Kirk Cousins is still curious, yet meaningful. The reliance on Rex Grossman to be backup to RG3 makes me squimish. He’s been around the team longer and has a lot to pass on, especially the hits and misses.

I know.

But head coach Mike Shanahan provided more insight recently in his interview with WGFX-FM:

“We had him ranked very high. For me what I am trying to do as a head football coach is you want to put the best football team you can possibly put together and you have to have depth. Robert Griffin III or Kirk Cousins or Rex Grossman or whoever your second, third or fourth quarterback is he is one or two plays away from being the starter…“I believe that if you got a guy who you think is an excellent football player that you can get in the 4th round and improve your football team then you go do it.”

 

I agree, but we’re looking at a team that has a lot riding on this year. Kirk Cousins provides a second storyline to the Redskins that may not be realized until worse happens.

Here are some scenarios that Kirk Cousins provides to the Washington Redskins:

  • Insurance: Should RG3’s performance not be up to par, Kirk Cousins provides a look at something new, and just as good
  •  “Pawn Star”: Kirk Cousins can be the dealmaker or breaker for any deals needed for the 2013 NFL Draft or Free Agency.  Forget the deal he signed, he’s  a name that can be placed on the dealer’s table at any time during the season. Remember, this is a team that  traded the rights to its first-round pick (No. 6 overall), its second-round pick this year, along with first round picks in 2013 and 2014 to the Rams for the rights to the No. 2 overall pick. Never forget that.

The one factor you gotta like is that no matter what position he plays in the Redskins’ plan, Cousins wins.

Ricky Allen is a Washington Redskins Blogger with Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter 

 

 

 

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