Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports
Entering the 2013 NFL season, the Jacksonville Jaguars have a new head coach, and new-look offensive line, and even a new logo. But one area where the team is still lacking in the freshness department is the quarterback position.
That aforementioned new head coach Gus Bradley has been noncommittal concerning the team’s ongoing quarterback competition (if you can even call it that) between Chad Henne and Blaine Gabbert. Neither guy has been impressive during their careers to date with Henne being mainly a journeyman and Gabbert being the butt of several jokes. Given that less than optimistic outlook on the quarterback position, why wouldn’t the Jags reach out to the Washington Redskins and see what it would take to lure Kirk Cousins to Jacksonville?
Cousins had a nearly flawless performance in his team’s first preseason game, and his play from a year ago in relief of Robert Griffin III certainly showed that he is more than capable of getting the job done when the real deal begins. While the Redskins may be reluctant to pull the trigger on a deal with the ongoing uncertainty surrounding RG3’s knee and just how ‘game-ready’ he actually is, Cousins could help replenish some of the draft ammunition lost in the deal to acquire the rights to draft the former Baylor University QB from the St. Louis Rams.
Washington will still be without a first round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft as things stand now, but potentially acquiring a second rounder from the Jags in exchange for Cousins would aid the Skins’ ability to continue building around their man under center. Jacksonville really doesn’t have much to offer outside of draft choices in a deal for Cousins, but that should suit the Redskins just fine given their lack of selections in recent years to replenish their roster.
Having a quarterback like Cousins with the Jags would certainly draw more fans to the stadium and create more excitement with formidable weapons like Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon getting in on the act early and often. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew has had loads of success during his time with the Jags, but that has all come without much of a passing threat to accompany him on offense. Just think of how much damage MJD could do with a balanced attack to keep defenses guessing.
The Jags were smart if steering away from the quarterback crop in this past April’s NFL Draft and building at other key areas instead. Offensive tackle Luke Joeckel is going to be a stalwart on the line for a decade, and every good team begins with a solid base in the trenches. But in order to win games and put fannies in the seats, the Jags need to get a consistent quarterback on their roster sooner rather than later. A trade for Cousins would have this franchise back on the road to relevancy for the first time in a long time.
Anthony Blake is a Senior Writer/Copy Editor for Rant Sports. You Can Follow Him on Twitter, on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
