With the 102nd pick in the 2012 NFL draft the Redskins selected Kirk Cousins, QB from Michigan State. In case you haven't heard, the Skins have their QB of the future in RGIII. And the Skins have needs in the secondary and tackle positions that have not yet been addressed in the draft. So why take a QB in round 4?
Here are two reasons.
First, the Skins need a long-term solution at backup QB. John Beck fizzled, and Rex Grossman only plays really well when he's not playing really poorly. Obviously the Skins hope RGIII can eventually be as dominant as Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers. But what these elite QBs also have in common are missed games due to injuries.
Two of them, Brady and Rodgers, were temporarily replaced by young backups who filled in admirably, Matt Cassell and Matt Flynn. Manning had no capable backup behind him, and we all saw what happened to the Colts. So perhaps Kirk Cousins can be that young, capable backup to step in when/if RGIII spends some time out due to injury.
Second, Kirk Cousins may have been a good pick because there is a recent trend by which teams turn good backup QBs into high draft picks. Andy Reid and the Eagles have done this twice, trading Kevin Kolb for a 2nd-round pick to the Cardinals and A.J. Feeley to the Dolphins for a 2nd-round pick. The Patriots did this with Matt Cassell, getting a 2nd-round pick from the Chiefs. (Edit: Additional examples include Matt Schaub 5 years ago for two 2nd-round picks, and Charlie Whitehurst 2 years ago for a 3rd.)
Kirk Cousins was a three-year starter and captain at Michigan State and considered by some as the 6th best QB prospect in the draft.
Taken with a 4th-round pick, Cousins has the potential not only to serve as a capable young backup to RGIII, but to bring in a 2nd-round pick in future years.
Or we could have chosen a player that could help keep RG3 from needing a back-up or a player that could help RG3's development in other areas by providing additional talent ON THE FIELD RATHER THAN ON THE BENCH!
ReplyDeleteWhat would RG3 have done with the 4th pick (keep in mind he doesn't fear Cousins by any means)? AND YOU BETTER HOPE COUSINS IS A PLAYER WHO SITS, SHUTS HIS MOUTH, AND LOVES TAKING A BACK-SEAT FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS!!!!! History says more than not, it will not be the case especially when it is a QB of the same age and experience. Also with the past drafts and short picks and coming years, this team does NOT have the luxury nor experience like the elite teams to invest picks and hope to acquire more in return
POOR CHOICE AND WASTED PICK!!!!!
Best player available ! Great pick !
Deleteeating your words today?
DeleteRecent trend? The Feeley trade took place 10 years ago. So you're citing 3 instances in 10 years as both recent and a trend.
ReplyDeleteSpending 5 draft picks on quarterbacks is crazy.
If RGIII plays the way they want and last as the starter for 4 or more years then Cousins will bring in a high draft pick in the future. Good pick.
Delete@ satchow -- The Feeley trade was 8 years ago (not 10), Cassell 3 years ago, Kolb 1 year ago. If you want more examples there's also Matt Schaub 5 years ago for two 2nd-round picks, and Charlie Whitehurst 2 years ago for a 3rd.
ReplyDelete@ DLR4Skins -- agree the Skins needed to draft players to "help RG3 from needing a back-up." Was happy to see them them draft not 1, not 2, but 3 offensive linemen. Good point of course about needing Cousins to be a player who sits and shuts his mouth; everything I've read is that Cousins is exactly this kind of high-character player.
The Patriots were happy to have drafted Cassell when Brady went down, and the Packers were happy to have drafted Flynn when Rodgers went down. The only difference is those were 7th round picks, whereas Cousins was a 4th round pick. However, Cousins was graded by many as a 2nd-rounder which means he offered good value in Round 4 -- I imagine this is why the Skins took their backup QB in Round 4 instead of 7.
I was scratching my head a bit at first but then the logic came through. And I think you're right. Even if RG3 was playing behind Center on the 1991 team that means he was still getting hit 11+ times. That means there will be at least 11 chances for a season or god forbid a carreer ending injury. Michael Vick and Randall Cunningham have gone a combined total of 2 years playing a full season. Robert Griffin will get hurt playing Quarterback for the Washington Redskins it is just a question of when and how bad. I feel a lot better about our season seeing Captain Kirk Cousins taking snaps than Sexy Rexy and his dubble chins.
ReplyDelete