Washington Redskin's coach, Mike Shanahan, has been under fire these past few days for using one of their fourth round picks on Michigan State quarterback, Kirk Cousins. To most, this pick did not make sense because all it is doing is causing unnecessary competition for Robert Griffin III. However, this is not the case.
[caption id="attachment_956" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Cousins is there if needed in case RG3 stumbles"]
[/caption]
That is not to say that this was not a surprising pick. I don't think anybody saw it coming, not even Kirk Cousins. He said on the Dan Patrick Show "I'll be the first one to say it was a surprising pick to me, as well." Cousins, however, understands the situation he is entering in Washington. Griffin is the guy, Cousins will be a back up.
Cousins continued to say on his radio interview that he and Griffin are "not competing against one another" but instead "we're competing with one another" as they try to help each other grow. Cousins has handled the situation well and knows that he will get an opportunity to be a starter one day, it just may not be within the next few years, or even in Washington.
A lot can go wrong when you pick a quarterback. Quarterbacks drafted number one or two overall have have about a 50/50 success failure rate. We all know the Redskins gave up A LOT to get Griffin, giving up their first round picks in the next two years. If something goes wrong with Griffin, that is a lot of time before they are able to draft a quarterback in the first round again, and Washington fans want success now.
[caption id="attachment_955" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Quarterbacks taken with the top 2 picks have a 50/50 rate of success/failure"]
[/caption]
Shanahan has created a plan B by drafting Kirk Cousins, and this pick makes a lot of sense when put this way. Griffin could potentially be a bust (Ryan Leaf?) or could get injured badly some time in his first few years. If this is the case, instead of throwing away the next two years with Grossman under center until 2015 when the Redskins can pick in the first round, Kirk Cousins can get his shot and the Redskins can start from square one. Griffin is not a lock to be a success and the Redskins gave up too much to get him to not have a fall back option.
So everyone who has been on Mike Shanahan's case about this pick, time to lay off. The man made a good call to prevent the Redskins from having a couple of wasted years in case things with Robert Griffin III don't work out. Griffin should not feel like his starting spot is being threatened by Kirk Cousins because that is not what Mike Shanahan has in mind.
Robert Griffin III is the starter, Rex Grossman is the backup, and, worst case scenario, Kirk Cousins is there as a plan B. All the spots are covered.
Back to the Washington Commanders Newsfeed