Washington Redskins: 15 best quarterbacks of all-time

Kirk Cousins left a sour taste in the mouths of Redskins fans when he left in the offseason of 2018 to sign with the Minnesota Vikings for record-making money. The franchise tag fiasco put a stain on Cousins’ legacy in D.C. Perhaps that’s a problem, because his story is a fascinating one.

Imagine being a Power 5 quarterback, having achieved modest success in college. Enough success to envision yourself receiving a chance to be a starter at the next level. Cousins entered draft season in that situation with those aspirations. When he was drafted in the fourth round to the Redskins, who drafted Robert Griffin III with the No. 2 overall pick, those aspirations should have died.

But they didn’t.

Washington Commanders

Cousins worked and he waited. And soon enough, his opportunity came.

In 2014, after an injury sustained by Griffin, Cousins received his a chance to rebound from his ugly showing at the end of the 2013 season. He did so, throwing 10 touchdowns to nine interceptions in five starts.

He was eventually benched, but the sample size would be enough to influence Jay Gruden’s decision on a starting quarterback the next summer. He chose Cousins in 2015 and the job was the former Michigan State Spartan’s to lose.

At first, it seemed as if Cousins was another undeserving backup thrust into the spotlight too soon. In his first six games of 2015, he threw six touchdowns to eight interceptions.

In the seventh game, however, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cousins exploded, throwing for over 300 yards and scoring four total touchdowns in an epic comeback victory, known now as the famous “You Like That” game.

In the nine games after the comeback in Tampa, Cousins eventually eclipsed 4,000 yards, throwing 23 touchdowns to just three interceptions. He led the Redskins on a 7-3 season-ending run, earning a playoff spot by winning the NFC East.

In the next two seasons, Cousins achieved sustained success. During his time with Washington, while he only made the playoffs once, he threw for over 16,000 yards, 99 touchdowns and 55 interceptions. He mastered the system, playing on two-straight franchise tags. In the summer of 2018, he helped reset the quarterback market.

Today, Cousins’ legacy is still being written. He has a chance to lead his Vikings to the playoffs and prove wrong his detractors, who still have ample ammunition yet. Still, his disenchanting departure from D.C. should not cloud his reputation. He is a rare kind of quarterback; the one who became a franchise quarterback, rather than being drafted as one.