Redskins get their...Quarterbacks?

With the second overall pick in the 2012 draft, the Redskins surprised no one by selecting Robert Griffin III. The highly touted quarterback from Baylor has been anointed as the savior of the franchise since the Redskins pulled off a massive trade to move up to number two in the draft in order to claim him. The rest of the team’s draft was expected to be a collection of offensive linemen and “best available” picks, but in the fourth round the Redskins unexpectedly drafted Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins. Thought by many experts to be a starting caliber QB, the move raised more than a few eyebrows from around the league, even with Cousins himself. "I was shocked," he said, "Knowing what they had done with the No. 2 pick, and that I hadn't talked to them that much in the whole process." Cousins was not the only one surprised. Everyone has been analyzing this pick trying to figure out just what it means. Are the Redskins already questioning RGIII’s potential? Is the team headed for a quarterback controversy? Don’t worry DC, it’s not time to re-evaluate RGIII.

So who is this new QB? Kirk Cousins was the starting QB at Michigan State since 2009. In his redshirt senior season, he threw for 3,316 yards and 25 touchdowns. While he was not the highest rated QB in the draft, many scouts thought he had clear starting potential, including Jon Gruden who thought he could be as high as a second round pick. The Redskins picked him up in the fourth round with the 102^nd overall pick. With the team so clearly set on RGIII, it seemed an odd choice as it does create the potential for a QB controversy. Imagine if Cousins plays lights out in the preseason and RGIII struggles in the regular season. Eventually there could be pressure to sit him in favor of Cousins. Also, RGIII is not living in a cave, he’s fully aware the Redskins have drafted another QB. The team has already put the weight of the franchise on his young shoulders, should he really have to think about beating out another young QB to earn that job?

Ok, everyone, take a deep breath and calm down. There is no QB controversy in DC. The Redskins traded a second round pick and three first round picks to get Griffin. Mike Shanahan’s future is tied to RGIII’s success. If he fails, Shanahan will fail. Shanahan will do everything he can to make sure RGIII succeeds. As for the added pressure, if RGIII is the professional we hope he is, he should not care at all about Cousins. He is going to be a rookie starting QB in the NFL. He is going to be under the public spotlight. If he can’t handle a backup QB, he can’t handle the NFL. It’s a non factor. All QBs have backups, they have to learn to live with it.

Some have theorized that Cousins was brought it to pressure RGIII a little bit to train hard so he’s ready to take over the team, but that’s simply ridiculous. The Redskins would not have paid as high a price for RGIII as they did if they thought he needed extra motivation. In the fourth round of the draft teams are looking both for players to fill holes and for the best available talent. When Cousins fell to the fourth round, the Redskins felt he was the best player available and could not pass on him. Who would you have preferred they take? Of course there is still talent on the board in the fourth round, but if you believe so much in Cousins then it makes a certain amount of sense. The problem I have with the pick is not that it puts added pressure on RGIII, but that the Redskins used one of their few picks on a position they no longer needed to fill. The Redskins gave up four picks, two in this draft, to take RGIII. They should not be using yet another draft pick to get someone who they know is not going to play.

When the Redskins were on the board, they must have thought he was the best player on the board and that he provided them with insurance should RGIII get injured. He also could be a potential trade asset of the future. Best case scenario is that both thrive in the NFL. Seriously, who cares if Cousins turns out to be great? Trade him. I don’t see this as being bad for RGIII or that it will add too much pressure on him. All the pressure in the world is already on his shoulders. I just think this was a waste of a pick, but it’s not like the Redskins haven’t wasted numerous picks over the years.