Kirk Cousins Remains Overrated by Some in NFL Even After Falling to 4th Round

The NFL draft is well-known for the rumors and innuendo that fly from anonymous sources, but those loose lips also open up after the draft. Pro Football Weekly's "Audibles" column this week has terrific thoughts from anonymous NFL coaches, scouts and front-office personnel:

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I can’t believe someone didn’t take (Michigan State QB) Kirk Cousins sooner. (Washington) took two great shots at getting a quarterback. It was a great CYA (cover-your-ass) pick to bail them out if their first-round pick (Robert Griffin III) does not get it done. We didn’t need one, but I was getting ready to pull (Cousins') card at that price. It wouldn’t surprise me if the fourth-rounder winds up becoming the solution to their problems.

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It would surprise me. Really surprise me. I'm sure Cousins impressed in chalkboard sessions and interviews. He's a very experienced starter. He scans the field and makes decisions just look like a pro. The problem is the result.

His throws have little zip and seem to hang in the air forever. If college defenders are almost getting to his passes on a regular basis, then NFL defenders are going to feast on Cousins. Watch him in his last collegiate game:

Why would the Washington Redskins feel the need to cover anything with Robert Griffin III in tow? If you're willing to give three first-round picks for a player, he becomes your Plan A, B, C and D. There is an argument that Griffin could be injury-prone and therefore, the quality of the backup matters, but that hardly equals Griffin not getting it done.

The Redskins probably expect to deal Cousins later in his rookie contract in a Matt Schaub or Kevin Kolb kind of deal after buzz about him builds around the league. That's about the only way he'll end up being a "solution for Washington's problems." He can help them recoup some premium capital that they lost in trading up for Griffin.

I have no doubt that Cousins will be the kind of backup that helps a coach sleep at night because he'll master his offense and leave little room for failure because of lack of preparation. It's what he'll do on the field that will cause the failure. I believe the Redskins are getting a Matt Leinart-quality QB in Cousins.