Cleveland Browns Should Avoid Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins to the Cleveland Browns, the NFL rumor that refuses to die, has resurfaced. Here’s hoping the Browns bury it back where it belongs.

Historians from future generations will be left pondering many questions upon examining today’s society. Why were members of the Kardashian family so famous? What were the subjects that divided us politically and economically?

Who was Kirk Cousins, and why was he constantly mentioned with this entity known as the Cleveland Browns even though the duo never officially worked together?

The National Football League rumor that has popped up every offseason over the past couple of years has once again risen from the dirt as the end of February and the start of free agency approaches. According to our friends over at SB Nation blog Dawgs by Nature, a Football Outsiders story made available per ESPN Insider has suggested that the Browns should pursue Cousins via free agency next month. In that post, Cousins was, per Dawgs by Nature, described as having “proven play with some upside.”

Huh?

Cousins first appeared in six games in a single season for the Washington Redskins back in 2014 (h/t ESPN.com). In those six contests, Cousins tossed a total of 10 touchdown passes and 9 interceptions. Eight of those picks occurred across three games. Cousins completed 61.8 percent of his passes that year.

Cousins had a roller-coaster 2015, one filled with numerous ups and downs after he was named Washington’s starting quarterback before the start of the campaign. He was intercepted eight times in his first six games, four of which the Redskins lost. Cousins eventually grew more comfortable under center as the team’s confirmed offensive general, and he helped guide the Redskins to wins in four of the team’s final five meaningful games and to a NFC East Division Championship.

Cousins also gave us one of the top soundbites of the season.

Cousins was far from special in a home Wild Card game against the Green Bay Packers. He was outplayed by Aaron Rodgers, and the Redskins were outscored 35-13 in the final three quarters of play en route to a 35-18 defeat.

Cousins’ overall numbers for the 2015 regular season were impressive. He finished the campaign with 29 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. Cousins nearly completed 70 percent (69.8) of his attempts, and he threw for over 4,100 total yards.

Proven, though? Not so fast.

Using the term as it was used by Football Outsiders, Derek Anderson showed “proven play with some upside” while leading the Browns to a 10-6 mark back in 2007. The same could possibly be said of 30-year-old Brian Hoyer because Hoyer flashed some promise while with the Browns in 2014 and the Houston Texans last season.

Hoyer experienced a complete meltdown in a home playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs, and it is likely that he will enter next September as either a backup or as a mentor for a young QB who will take his job sooner than later.

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Ignore, for a moment, that Cleveland analysts and fans have been comparing Cousins to Hoyer and vice-versa since before the 2014 NFL Draft. Don’t bother looking back at YouTube clips and All-22 film provided by NFL Game Pass. Instead, just ask yourself this one simple question:

Why would the Redskins allow Cousins to enter free agency if he is any good?

Good quarterbacks who haven’t won anything of merit, let alone potential franchise QBs, never enter free agency these days. The Miami Dolphins secured the rights of Ryan Tannehill. Andy Dalton will be with the Cincinnati Bengals for at least another season before the Bengals can, per Spotrac, realistically begin thinking about moving on. Tony Romo may own a piece of the Dallas Cowboys before all is said and done, and Romo has never taken the Cowboys to the Super Bowl!

Washington could eliminate any doubts about where Cousins will be playing next fall by using the franchise tag to retain his services for 2016. Mike Jones of the Washington Post recently speculated about how Cousins would handle being guaranteed so much money for what would be a “show me” season:

"…it’s possible that Cousins would believe he needed to play up to that $20 million salary and prove himself as one of the league’s elite quarterbacks. Would that prompt him to unconsciously drift back to his old form, trying too hard to be a hero and in turn, forcing throws and turning the ball over frequently? All parties involved certainly hope not. But it’s one of the risks of having to use the franchise tag.But the Redskins could encounter the same problem if they worked out a long-term contract with Cousins because whatever salary he receives will represent a dramatic spike over the $660,000 base salary he drew last season. They just have to hope that the maturity he displayed last season will help him handle this new kind of pressure, whether it’s under the franchise tag or a long-term deal."

There are two explanations for why the Redskins would not use the franchise tag on Cousins:

Washington believes a long-term contract will be agreed upon before Cousins meets with any other team and/or the club knows that Cousins wants to play for the Redskins more so than he wants to play for any other team.
The Redskins, the only NFL team to ever employ Cousins and the only club to have a pro coaching staff that has ever worked with Cousins, are not concerned about losing Cousins to free agency even if that means having to go in a different direction come this spring.

Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that Washington owner Dan Snyder makes a(nother) questionable business decision and chooses to role the dice and let Cousins explore free agency. The Browns are not a decent QB away from doing much of anything in 2016. Cleveland giving up a large amount of money on who may be an average QB makes would be horrible business.

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New head coach Hue Jackson will be installing his offense come this summer. Cleveland could lose several offensive line mainstays, including All-Pro center Alex Mack. The Browns need help at the running back and wide receiver positions on offense, and the team could use upgrades all over the place on defense.

Save the cap space, Cleveland. You’re going to need it.