By now, we’ve all heard about the Washington Redskins and estranged star quarterback Kirk Cousins, failing to reach a long-term contract extension. The question that begs to be answered is, is he really worth it?
First off, it’s Kirk with a “k” not Kurt, if you’re reading this, Bruce Allen.
And second, and more importantly, if Cousins has the cojones to turn down $53 million guaranteed in a potential six-year $133 million deal, then more power to him for doing so, thus maintaining his leverage and maximizing his earning potential.
What and how does it benefit Cousins to stay in the DMV—The District, Maryland and Virginia—to those living outside of our nation’s capital, when they lost DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon in free agency, and have to rely on second-year players such as Josh Doctson, Jamison Crowder and converted WR in Terrelle Pryor.
Tight end Jordan Reed is a baller, but when’s the last time he’s played an entire 16-game season, since he’s played a total of 46, for an average of 11.5?
And who is the main guy at running back for Washington? Matt Jones and rookie Samaje Perine? Good luck with that one, buddy.
All signs point to Captain Kirk beaming himself out of D.C. and landing someplace else. The question is where?
The usual QB-needy suspects such as my Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams ($44.1 million), San Francisco 49ers ($32.1 million) and New York Jets ($55.0 million) are all likely to be mentioned as landing spots in 2018.
Other teams with a TON of cap space, and in need of a QB who could jump into the Cousins sweepstakes are the Chicago Bears ($39.7 million), Houston Texans ($48.1 million) and Minnesota Vikings ($42.2 million), per Roster Management System.
Cleveland is always in play for a QB , but signs are pointing to DeShone Kizer as the future, The Rams and Niners are appealing considering his ties to Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay, the Jets are a Bronx Zoo of garbage, the Bears already are tied to Mitchell Trubisky and Mike Glennon.
Houston has potential thanks to their defense and offensive-minded head coach in Bill O’Brien and Minnesota has all the same as Houston, along with playing in a dome.
Here’s my sleeper that NO ONE is talking about. The Denver Broncos.
My reasons are simple. Great defense. mediocre and wide-open division in the AFC West and John Elway.
While the Broncos already have Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch entrenched, neither one of them is better than Cousins on his worst day, and combine that with Elway’s successful track record of luring the likes of Peyton Manning to the Mile High City and winning a Super Bowl with THAT defense, it’s a slam-dunk no-brainer.
Cousins needs to decide if he’s happy breaking the bank in Washington and being stuck as arguably the third-best quarterback in his own division behind Dak Prescott, Eli Manning and ahead of Carson Wentz, and prospective teams must decide if they feel comfortable in over-paying for—at best, a slightly overrated and good, not great—quarterback, whose name is not Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers.
Yes money talks, as well as production, in which Cousins has tossed 54 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, passed for 9,083 yards while posting an impressive passer rating of 99.4.
Likely, teams will be wise to see how all the drama in D.C. plays out first, before deciding to consider bringing him in. You like that!