Washington Redskins: The impossible rise of Kirk Cousins

Greater Players

Cousins’ exploits in college were enough to separate him from the fringe players of the draft. But when draft day arrived, Cousins wasn’t on the mind of scouting departments. Other, greater players were.

Cousins gathered with his family at his home on each draft day, and for hours, they watched the names go by. Waiting for theirs to appear on screen.

But Cousins’ name never came. Instead, greater players came before him.

Round 1. Pick 1. Andrew Luck.

Round 1. Pick 2. Robert Griffin III.

Round 1. Pick 8. Ryan Tannehill.

Round 1. Pick 22. Brandon Weeden.

Round 2. Pick 57. Brock Osweiler.

Round 3. Pick 75. Russell Wilson.

Round 3. Pick 88. Nick Foles.

When the festivities of Day Two concluded, the excitement of the build up to the draft was all but gone. Cousins himself had expected to go in Rounds 2 or 3, and his agent, Mike McCartney, was just as confident. He was disappointed when no one called that day, and when the Washington Redskins called the next day, early in the fourth round, his emotions were no different.

Cousins, ever the competitive spirit, planned on having a chance to start immediately out of college. He wasn’t flashy. But he got the job done. But in 2012, that wasn’t enough.

Shanahan felt Cousins was a steal in the fourth round, and so rather than allowing him to be drafted by a team where he would have more immediate opportunities, the Washington Redskins drafted Cousins with the exact intent for which he was eventually used.

To get the job done, if greater players failed to do so.

To be the underdog.

It was a role Cousins knew well.

In his first year with the Washington Redskins, Cousins took on the persona of a good soldier. It was all the quarterback knew how to do. He wasn’t voted as a captain his sophomore year at Michigan State for going home early. Cousins was successful because he worked hard. Harder than the greater players that garnered more recognition than him.

And so, from day one, Cousins worked. And worked. And worked.

As a rookie, Cousins’ work was enough to anoint him the backup quarterback over veteran and mentor Rex Grossman. But as had always been the case, greater players stole the show. Robert Griffin III led the Washington Redskins to the playoffs with a record of 10-6, winning Rookie of the Year in the process. Cousins had played in spot duty at times, but he was still the backup.

In 2013, Cousins would get an extended look at the end of the season. But he was not ready. And in 2014, when Robert Griffin III went down in Week 1, and when Cousins took over the starting job for the foreseeable future, he still wasn’t ready.

But he fought the prestige of the greater players the only way he knew how to. He kept working. He kept striving to be better. Ever the underdog.

And in 2015, the Washington Redskins decided that he was the best.