Jimmy Garoppolo Could Be A Fit With Washington Redskins If Kirk Cousins Leaves

The have been a lot of rumbling about the potential departure of Kirk Cousins in the offseason. If Cousins leaves, the Washington Redskins could target Jimmy Garoppolo as a replacement.

The Kirk Cousins saga has continued over the past month for the Washington Redskins. As time has gone on, it is apparent that Cousins is growing weary of negotiating with the Redskins brass. The team has showed no faith in the potential franchise quarterback, and it looks like he may want to join former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan with the San Francisco 49ers. If that happens, it will likely come via a tag-and-trade scenario, where the Redskins would acquire the No. 2 overall pick in exchange for Cousins.

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If that ends up happening, the Redskins would have two first round picks at their disposal. That would give them some leeway to make moves that will improve the team greatly. With the No. 2 overall pick, they would like target Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, but the No. 17 overall pick could be different. The Redskins would possibly elect to part ways with that pick to bring in a quarterback. None would have more upside than Jimmy Garoppolo.

Garoppolo, the backup for the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, has been rumored to be a potential trade candidate in the 2017 offseason. The Patriots have Jacoby Brissett, who they spent a third round pick on, and they are expected to ride with Tom Brady for at least a couple more years. Garoppolo is entering the final year of his contract and the team is unlikely to re-sign him at the end of it. For that reason, his name has been prevalent on the trade market.

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If the Redskins like Garoppolo’s potential and if they move Cousins, then it could end up being a good marriage for the two. Sure, Garoppolo is an unproven commodity, but he has flashed an excellent skill set in the few starts he has had. Some will point to Brock Osweiler‘s deal in an attempt to caution buyers, but the fact is that Garoppolo has more talent that the Houston Texans quarterback. And since he is still on his rookie contract, Garoppolo comes with a lot less risk.

In his predictions about where the big name quarterbacks will end up this offseason, WalterFootball.com’s Walter Cherepinsky listed Garoppolo as the top candidate for the Redskins, if Cousins leaves. He justified a potential deal by saying this:

"What the Patriots need to do is find a team that’s desperate, much like the Eagles did with the Vikings once Teddy Bridgewater got hurt. That would be the Redskins in the event of Cousins defecting for San Francisco. The Redskins would have the second- and 17th-overall picks in the 2017 NFL Draft in the event of Cousins departing, so I could see them offering No. 17 to the Patriots for Garoppolo. I’m confident the Patriots would say yes to that."

The No. 17 pick would probably be a fair asking price. Though Garoppolo is less proven than Cousins, he has more upside and is significantly cheaper. Since he is in the final year of his deal, the Redskins can let him walk if he fails as a starter. If he does not, the team can try to sign him long term and franchise him if they cannot agree. It may be similar to the Cousins situation, but it would still buy them time to find an answer.

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No matter what happens, Garoppolo is worth keeping an eye on. Cousins may not be long for the Redskins and if they have to find a replacement, then Garoppolo will almost certainly be a player they look into.

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