Injury to Robert Griffin III Exactly Why the Redskins Drafted Kirk Cousins

Back on draft day it was no surprise when the Washington Redskins drafted Robert Griffin III out of Baylor. The Heisman Trophy winner was one of the most dynamic players to come out of college football in years. Besides Andrew Luck, he was the next player that the whole world expected to come off the draft board last April.

Washington was given all the credit they deserved and then some for making the trade that allowed them to get him. There were some questions that they may have given up too much since the 'Skins were largely believed to have a number of holes; no matter how good RG3 ended up being it wasn't clear whether Washington would have the personnel to fully utilize him.

That made their fourth round pick that much more perplexing. With the obvious quarterback of the future drafted in the first round they took another quarterback, Kirk Cousins out of Michigan State.

What?

Did they have doubts about RG3's talents translating to the NFL? There have been plenty of stud college players that have totally flopped in the NFL after all...Or were they just being stupid? They didn't need another rookie QB on the roster so why take one?

The reason is starting to become clear.

Rex Grossman was on the roster and expected to be the back-up, but a look at his track record having been a starter for much of his pro career, but a look at his overall track record and it becomes clear why he hasn't been able to stick as a starter. Yes, injuries have been an issue for him, but so has ineffective and inconsistent play.

So why use a draft pick on a safety net player like a back-up QB? Maybe because you know that to use the talents that  your future starter has he will have to be put into harms way. All season long analyses have commented on how RG3 needs to get down; that he's taking too many hits.

For a starting quarterback that is true, but he is more than just a starting quarterback. RG3 is essentially another running back in the backfield that happens to throw the ball a lot as well.

Runners are going to get hit. Normally runners are not also your starting quarterback, but in this case the two are one. So on occasion--even if he does try to protect himself by sliding--RG3 is going to take a few hits; a lot like he did on Sunday against the Ravens when he suffered a knee injury (I believe it was a knee sprain, but I don't recall the severity).

So when you know that there is a good chance that your QB may be out do you really ant to trust the fate of the team to a veteran QB that is not good enough to hold onto a starting job or do you want to give to someone who could very well be a starter in his own right?

Let me put it this way--do you want to pay a guy that could be very good a modest salary (which a 4th rounder would get) for four years and hope he ends up being a good NFL QB or do you want to go with an overpriced veteran that is not good enough to start?

Ask the Washington Redskins fans that watched Cousins complete a pair of passes to finish off a touchdown drive and then run in a 2-point conversion himself to tie the game up and send it to overtime and I think the answer will be pretty clear. Especially since the team went on to win 31-28 over the Ravens in OT.

As much money as Dan Snyder has blown in the NFL, I think this is the smartest money he's spent yet.