Maybe if the Washington Redskins were a bit more comfortable and confident with their starting quarterback situation, trading Kirk Cousins to the St. Louis Rams would have been a realistic option. However, considering what we’ve seen in this preseason, it’s too much of a risk to let go of a quality backup at this point.
The St. Louis Rams might not talk in desperation, but they’re getting to that point. Sam Bradford has torn his ACL for the second time in less than a year, which means the Rams, a team that’s been built quite nicely on the defensive side of the ball over the last three years is once against stuck without a quarterback. Waiting for someone good to get cut is an option, but they’re also trying to see who is worth trading for, assuming that Bradford’s career is as good as over.
Kirk Cousins has been in the league since 2012, being picked three rounds after Robert Griffin III. From the first moment, it was clear who was going to be the franchise quarterback and who was going to serve as his backup. Cousins played well in 2012 when Griffin went down, which led some to believe he’d soon find himself another team. Last season didn’t work out that well for him, but the Redskins were a mess so 2013 isn’t a very good indicator when trying to isolate a quarterback’s performance.
Cousins is still viewed by quite a few people as a backup who could start on a number of teams in this league. Some think he’s actually better than Griffin, especially now that the Heisman winner isn’t the runner he was when he entered the league. The Rams would love to trade a fourth or maybe even a third-round draft pick for him, but Griffin has been so abysmal in the preseason that letting go of Cousins is simply something the Redskins can’t do.
Maybe it comes down to the pick. The Redskins don’t want a fourth round pick, and probably not a third. But is Cousins worth giving up a first or second round pick, which usually means someone who can start right away? It depends on how desperate the Rams are to find themselves a replacement to Bradford, and also how much faith the Redskins have in Griffin not needing anyone to back him up this season.