In this age of protecting the QB, we should really expect 8-9 years out of him, depends on whether this first contract is 4 or 5 years long.
At the moment, I'm leaning more towards the Kirk Cousins solution because that route opens up a whole slew of opportunities in the draft. If, however, Dorsey goes the trade for Alex Smith route: Who would become Pat Mahomes back up in Kansas City? We just happen to have 2 or 3 QB's that could fill that role in KC. Dorsey could offer up the 3rd round 2 pick - and - Kizer, Kessler or Hogan and maybe a future 3rd or 4th rounder to KC for Smith.
What's wrong with winning during these next 2-3 AND being set up to win for 10+ seasons? The only way you would be against this is if you didn't believe in the guy who has averaged over the past 3 seasons as a starter: 377/563, 67% completion, 4,392 yards, 7.8 yd/attempt, 11.6 yards/catch, 27 TDs(4.8%), 12 INTs(2.1%), 97.6 rating If you don't believe in HIM, how can you believe in anyone? What do you have in your defense of NOT wanting him?
Joe Thomas is just echoing the Browns fans. We are sick of this crap....Go get Cousins, and lets get a whole lot better over night. And then it's up to John Dorsey and his draft prowess. JD came in and immediately declared that the previous regime didn't take the right players, so in what is being touted as a deep draft, and all those premium picks at his disposal, he needs to knock a few out of the park. Sashi did set him up nicely. Of course, it was at all of our expense, buuut...uh whatever....I know I'm expecting a HUGE draft for the Cleveland Browns.
28-33-1 as a starter on a roster that would be almost unanimously considered better than the Browns'. By contrast, Alex Smith is 89-66-1, even going 38-36-1 on some awful 49ers teams. He's 50-26 since taking over a 2-14 Kansas City team that was led in the front office by our very own John Dorsey. Tyrod Taylor is 22-20 as a starter. Drew Stanton is 11-6 as a starter. Even Goff, who looked miserable as a rookie, is an even .500 as a starter. How come this "franchise QB" in Cousins has been unable to win more than .500 in his career as a starter with the same head coach and offensive scheme his entire tenure? And, until recently, much better weapons in the passing/ground game? The other thing with Smith, Taylor, Stanton, etc. is the fact they won't cripple this team from a cap standpoint.
I agree that's a concern, but I don't think the Redskins are built properly. When I watch them play, the problem is rarely Cousins.
In 2017, Cousins completed 64.3% of his passes, had a passer rating of 93.9, and 2.1:1 TD-INT ratio. This was the sixth year with his team and he lost a few weapons to free agency. They went 7-9. Josh McCown completed 67.3% of his passes, had a passer rating of 94.5, and a 2:1 TD-INT ratio. This was on a team that was nearly-universally picked to actually go 0-16 as they were setup to "tank" the season. They went 5-11 (5-8 with McCown). Maybe that's a bad example because people are still clamoring for us to have kept McCown in 2017, but I don't hear a number of franchises out there knocking down Josh's door to sign him to a $30+ million a year deal.
Playing a tougher schedule than Kirk Cousins: Andy Dalton... 297 of 496 (59.9% comp.), 3,320 yards, 25 TD (5.0%), 12 INT (2.4%), 86.6 QB rating, 7-9 record Kirk Cousins... 347 of 540 (64.3% comp.), 4,093 yards, 27 TD (5.0%), 13 INT (2.4%), 93.9 QB rating, 7-9 record It all boils down to I am not hamstringing the franchise for an Andy Dalton and passing up on a potential franchise QB in the draft.
With Haley taking over the offense and assuming play-calling duties, you have to wonder if he switches from Hue's heavy-handed WCO to his preferred Erhardt-Perkins approach. I would welcome that openly - the Patriots run the system to perfection - but it requires a savvy QB. Alex Smith was a brilliant student athlete and has picked up multiple playbooks over his time in the NFL (Cousins has had to learn two, both WCO variants). Wonder who in the draft mimics that aptitude?
I don't know how anyone can be so certain about any individual QB prospect at this point...That's why I want the Cousins plan, or the Smith plan, and that's about it...FWIW, I don't see a Garoppolo plan or a Brees being a reality....We need legitimacy at that position, and simply drafting Mayfield or Rosen or whichever top prospect, and bringing him in to a QB room with Kizer and Hogan, just isn't going to cut it....We know that isn't going to get it done.
SAS, you are comparing a player vs team issue...A player can only do what he can do, nothing more. A QB doesn't rush the ball (under normal circumstances), a QB doesn't play on a 28th ranked defense, a QB doesn't play special teams. Accounting for a 7-9 record and stating FRANKLY that team is 7-9 for one reason only...Kirk Cousins. Do you think the Redskins are 7-9 with DeShone Kizer? The point is getting the most out of the receiving group as you can...Cousins isn't the best QB in the entire NFL, but his passing offense was 12th best in the NFL...That's the only measuring stick I can ask of a QB, not his record in which 52 other players played a role in. That is ludicrous and only plays to your bias of wanting Baker Mayfield...whom will also "cripple" this team in 5 years, thus ending your calling for a 10+ year run, if he becomes a top rated QB...which by the way we have no idea will happen...He may ceiling out as the 15th best QB in the NFL, which I would gladly take at this point, but would still "cripple" us in cap space in 5 years, really after his 4th, as the fifth year options are pretty steep..Blake Bortles who was drafted #3 overall has a $19M 5th year option. This isn't crippling the franchise it's moving into a championship caliber mindset. We all know, until you have at the very least, an above average QB you have NO chance at all..that is where we stand today and will continue until that type of player is found. Which teams with that level of QB are "crippled" in the NFL? There is paying a high caliber QB and mismanaging a roster, two totally different things. As for McCown...he did it one season, Cousins has done it three in a row out of three starting seasons. I can't believe I would even debate the relevance or idiocy of comparing Kirk Cousins (29 years old) to Josh McCowns (39 years old) value. You want to discuss records, McCown is a career 23-50. Are you insane comparing these two on the open market?? The biggest difference between the two options of Kirk Cousins and a draft pick are the known vs. unknown. You KNOW you have a top 12 QB in Kirk Cousins, you have absolutely no idea what you have in a prospect...another known, you don't have a top 25 QB on the roster now, let alone a top 12..No matter what happens with the rest of your roster, the QB in the current status will not help you win games, he will only cost you games. By the way, Kirk Cousins was the 12th ranked QB despite the fact they ranked 18th in passing attempts...food for thought. He ranked 9th in passing TDs, despite not having a single receiver rank in the top 25. Yet, HE was the reason the Redskins went 7-9... I'm not arguing that Kirk Cousins transforms this team into a 7-9 team even...I am arguing he is a valuable PIECE to that puzzle.
Or even bringing him into a QB room with a Kizer and a Chase Daniel...he would immediately be the best QB in the room. However, I can't say bringing in Mayfield would make him the best QB in the room with Kizer and Cousins....That is why we should pursue Cousins. I WILL say this...I would not be opposed to drafting Mayfield and signing Colin Kaepernick, FROM A STANDPOINT OF REJUVENATING THIS ROSTER. The fallout from the fan base could cripple that move more though than simply drafting the rookie. I simply want a better roster in 2018, Kirk Cousins guarantees that, no QB in this draft guarantees a better roster in 2020, let alone 2018.
