Kirk Cousins has been the definition of inconsistent this season, but the highs have certainly been high for the quarterback as he led the Washington Redskins to a win over the New York Giants in Week 12. Of course that came after the Redskins got blown out against the Carolina Panthers, but Cousins is showing that he has the potential to be something in the NFL. The question is whether or not the Redskins take the bait on it with Robert Griffin III sitting on the bench. As rumors swirl over a potential deal this offseason, will Cousins be favored for the quarterback position in the future?
According to safety Dashon Goldson, the Redskins will go as far as Cousins can take them. The quarterback finished the Sunday going 20-of-29 for 302 yards in the 20-14 win. The highlight of the game came with a DeSean Jackson touchdown while a few key strikes to Jordan Reed sealed the deal. Cousins looked more and more confident as the game continued as everyone from Jackson to Matt Jones spoke out in support.
"Big win, another step in the right direction," Cousins said, via the Washington Post. "I never feel like one game or one performance does anything. It's a constant accumulation of experiences, knowledge and performances that start to build your capabilities and your reputation as an NFL quarterback. Today was another step in the right direction, and there's many, many steps left to go."
The issue for the Redskins is keeping Cousins. Griffin has a very expensive fifth-year option with no trade interest around him. According to Albert Breer of NFL.com, the Redskins and Cousins have had preliminary contract talks while head coach Jay Gruden made it clear that the quarterback is someone the team wants to keep around for a long time. Doing that could be more difficult than expected. The Washington Post reports the Redskins have not made a call on the future of Griffin and with the lack of options, the quarterback could be staying put. That means Cousins might get hit with the franchise tag while the Redskins have to re-sign other players.
One player likely on his way out is Alfred Morris who continues to have quiet games with Jones excelling. Morris looked solid against the Giants, but not enough to guarantee he gets a contract in the offseason. According to NFLSpinZone.com, the Redskins are likely to keep Jones around and let Morris head elsewhere as they aim to not spend big money at the running back position. With players like Jordan Reed and Jamison Crowder developing into key threats, players like Pierre Garcon or Jackson could be trade options to lessen the salary cap burden in order to keep Cousins around.
