The Washington Redskins are coming into the draft potentially looking for extra picks and using Kirk Cousins in a trade with the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns or Oakland Raiders could net the team another pick as they try and build more offense around RG3 and one reason the team doesn't have a first round pick is because of the deal that brought Robert Griffin III to Washington.
Cousins has not been mentioned in any deals as of late, but according to ESPN.com tem blogger John Keim, the Redskins may look to deal Cousins ahead of the draft, as they could use an extra pick in the event in May after losing their number two overall selection to the Rams. According to ESPN.com, the Redskins have no regrets about making the deal for RG3, but in a draft with this much talent, they would like to get a pick or two back and making a move with Cousins could get the team at least one mid-round pick.
Earlier in the offseason Cousins said that he would be open to a trade and this is the second season without a pick in the first round and while they made some nice free agent moves, the team still has a number of big needs in spots. One area they are set now is at receiver, as adding DeSean Jackson was a move that no one could have predicted just a year ago and now he comes in to work with Jay Gruden as he takes over at head coach.
Gruden is an offensive minded coach and having Jackson in the fold with Pierre Garcon gives Griffin some great weapons and Garcon is coming off of his best season and so is Jackson. Garcon had 113 catches last season for 1346 yards, while Jackson had 82 receptions for 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns and those were the best numbers of his career and now he is even more motivated to get things done after what happened in Philly. The team finally explained after the release that they felt that Jackson wasn't a fit anymore with the team and that means with head coach Chip Kelly most likely.
Last season the Redskins ranked 20th in passing yards allowed per game and 17th in rushing yards allowed and that means defense will be a focus as well. Griffin is the key on offense and if Gruden can improve the D just a little, the team should be able to rebound after the tough year last season of missing the playoffs and being mostly terrible.
This year the Rams have the number two overall pick from the Redskins after they went just 3-13 and they only have six picks overall in the draft. The team would like to add more than that in a draft this deep and they could get a mid-round pick for Cousins and that would be valuable for a player that likely will not be a factor this season. Griffin needs to be healthy for the team this year and he appears as such, but also not having Cousins behind him could be beneficial and the team already added another backup in Colt McCoy. Last season Griffin had 3,203 yards and 12 interceptions and he is looking to bounce back after missing out on the end of the season when he was shut down.
