Redskins: A diplomatic, statistical analysis of Alex Smith vs. Kirk Cousins
By Ian Cummings
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to throw my hat into this ring.
For most of the offseason, debates have been raging, with both the former and current Washington Redskins quarterbacks at the center of the squabble. I’m not going to pick a side in the Kirk Cousins vs. Alex Smith debate, but I might help you make that decision, if you choose to do so.
The widely-held consensus is that both quarterbacks are good at what they do. Many view Alex Smith as the more polished product, but both quarterbacks are in the top half in the NFL at their position.
Statistically, Kirk Cousins, over his three years starting with the Redskins, has outperformed Alex Smith, passing for over 4,000 yards three times in a row, while Smith only hit that mark for the first time in 2017.
Smith’s touchdown-to-interception ratio was better (61 to 20, just over 3 to 1) over that span, but Cousins still threw more touchdowns, amassing a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 81 to 36.
The rest of the raw stats, from completion percentage to passer rating, have been comparable, but the most recent body of work is the 2017 season, and in that season, Alex Smith showed a different version of himself from years past. His passer rating was the highest of the two quarterbacks over the past three years, and he achieved a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 26-5.
If the Redskins are getting the most updated version of Alex Smith, then he could be an upgrade from Kirk Cousins. In some areas, it’s splitting hairs, and from a raw statistical standpoint, taking the last three years into account, Cousins might be the better choice. To paint a better picture, let’s take a look at some advanced stats from the 2017 season, courtesy of Player Profiler.