Round 2: Should Commanders Sign QB Kirk Cousins?

The Washington Commanders have their eyes set on the quarterback position this offseason, but what if they don't love the best quarterback prospects in this class?

The Dan Quinn era isn’t off to the most optimism-inducing starts, given how he wasn’t the Washington Commanders’ – or their fanbase’s – preferred option. If there’s anything that can restore that faith before Week 1 rolls around, it’s getting a franchise quarterback in the building.

With the No. 2 pick in this year’s class and a handful of quality prospects to choose from, there’s every chance general manager Adam Peters arms his head coach with a potential franchise quarterback.

But what if Washington isn’t in love with any of their options when they’re on the clock?

© Geoff Burke, USA TODAY

As unlikely as it may be, the Commanders have a hole at quarterback and Minnesota Vikings quarterback and pending free agent Kirk Cousins may need a new home.

Few moves would suck the air out of rebuild like signing a starting quarterback going into his age-36 season. It certainly wouldn’t help the new administration’s approval rating. But there’s an entire offseason to run through more realistic scenarios.

Cousins likely gives Washington its highest-floor outcome and would probably make them more competitive than a rookie in the short term. It’s worth noting that his recovery from an Achilles tear both complicates his immediate returns and projection under center.

If he signs for Pro Football Focus’ projection – two years, $30 million per year – it wouldn’t be a crippling investment. It would also provide Peters with two options.

The first brings the biggest risk of returning to the mediocrity the Commanders have grown familiar with, and that’s trying to win right away. They have the cap and a handful of pieces that inspire optimism with quality quarterback play. If Quinn convinces himself that building up the supporting cast while trying to remain competitive is the best option for an eventual rookie in the post-Cousins era, the Vikings passer makes some sense,

The second option would bring in Cousins as a mentor. At his price point, he’d undoubtedly start over whatever rookie was drafted in April. A Cousins acquisition, though, means Washington would either take an elite talent – presumably receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. or offensive tackle Olu Fashanu or Joe Alt – or trade down to accumulate more value.

Perhaps Washington prefers the value of a Harrison-level prospect paired with Michael Penix Jr. or another Day 2 quarterback who would sit for at least a season.

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This is a demonstrably bad-process decision and would only complicate what should be a simple rebuilding strategy. But if they’re willing to go against the grain at No. 2, at least they’ll save some fans the cost of a new jersey.