Teams that should pass on Kirk Cousins for a 2018 NFL Draft prospect

Kirk Cousins will officially enter free agency in March. Which teams should pass on Cousins in favor of a prospect via the 2018 NFL Draft?

The Washington Redskins have made it abundantly clear that Kirk Cousins will not be back in the nation’s capital in 2018. In one of the most unexpected moves imaginable, Washington traded for veteran quarterback Alex Smith, and soon thereafter, signed him to a lucrative extension.

In the hours since Washington acquired Smith, one question has dominated the NFL across all platforms: Which team will sign Cousins?

Cousins is a highly productive player who has been featured in a major media market. He justified the hype by becoming the only player in the NFL to throw for at least 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in each of the past three seasons.

Thus, it comes as no surprise that general managers are circling the wagon and weighing the possibility of signing Cousins this offseason.

For as intriguing as Cousins may be, there are teams that should refrain from paying him the $30 million per season that many expect him to receive. This isn’t to say that he isn’t a good quarterback, but instead stating the belief that paying a quarterback big money depends as much on the situation as the talent.

For these quarterback-hungry teams, the 2018 NFL Draft would be far more conducive to sustained success than signing Kirk Cousins.