Kirk Cousins at the Bye, where do the Redskins stand?

After NFL 2016 Week 8, Kirk Cousins is ranked:

• No. 2 in passing yards (2,454)
• No. 7 in completion percent (67.0)
• Tied No. 11 for touchdowns thrown (12)
• Tied No. 22 for sacks taken (11)
• No. 17 for passer rating (93.1)
• No. 14 in ESPN QBR (61.9)

Stats from espn.com. Updated after MNF.

These are just numbers of individual performance. Teams win games, but nobody ties wins and losses to cornerbacks. That honor falls to quarterbacks and coaches.

So far, Cousins is 4-3-1 this year and 13-10-1 since named the starter in 2015. His performance against the Bengals resembled his achievement in the back half of last season.

Hog Heaven said it would look at his November games to make a call to keep or release Kirk since that’s when he makes his 36^th start, the point when GMs know for certain what they have in a player.

This look is just a snapshot in time. We won’t make that call today. However, Kirk is doing fine. At the very least, he is performing as a mid-tier NFL starter. That would be a Jay Cutler, Brock Osweiler, Tony Romo-level performance. Each of those gentlemen make $18 million this year on long term contracts.

Kirk Cousins' 15th career 300-yard passing game today ties him with Sonny Jurgensen for the most in Redskins history pic.twitter.com/C73NXPIc3M

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 30, 2016

That would have been a bargain price for the Redskins to sign Kirk, if they offered as much. Reports said the ‘Skins’ highest offer was $16 million per year.

Scot McCloughan’s decision is not simply a matter of money, although it may give the owner heartburn.

Counter-Point: The Redskins feel Colt McCoy is an option says Mike Jones on The Junkies. Let the posturing begin says Hog Heaven.

If Cousins maintains this level, he will hold all the aces next year because someone in Washington’s front office hedged that Kirk’s 2015 performance was a bubble ready to burst. Instead they boxed themselves into a corner.

• The 2017 salary cap will go up five or six percent and sweep QB salaries up with it.
• The 2017 cost to franchise Cousins is $24 million.
• Eight or nine wins won’t position the ‘Skins to draft a franchise QB to replace him. A rookie QB would also be a franchise reset.
• Free agent options are very limited. We could rent aging Drew Brees. His career time is limited, though, and he earns $24.4 million this year. You could snap up Ryan Fitzpatrick at $12 million if that’s your cup of tea. There is talk the Bears will release Jay Cutler who was once craved by Daniel Snyder.

Brees, Fitzpatrick, Cutler and Tony Romo are under contract to other teams. Under NFL rules, the Redskins may not name drop players under contract. Mike Jones says some in the front office think Colt McCoy would do as well.

lmao! Swear I'm just like pic.twitter.com/Ny1JEtRiWm

— Hilary (@HilareeBanks) November 2, 2016

The Junkies Video: Letting Cousins walk would be very risky for the Redskins.

Cousins has leverage over a team with few options. Snyder will have little choice but to re-sign Kirk, though it may kill him to do so.