With The First Pick
Fansided

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

By Maxwell Ogden

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 17: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins looks to pass in the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at FedEx Field on December 17, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 17: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins looks to pass in the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at FedEx Field on December 17, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 08: Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants catches a fourth quarter touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during an NFL game at MetLife Stadium on October 8, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Los Angeles Chargers defeated the New York Giants 27-22. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 08: Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants catches a fourth quarter touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during an NFL game at MetLife Stadium on October 8, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Los Angeles Chargers defeated the New York Giants 27-22. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

New York Giants

Draft Pick(s): Round 1, Pick 2
Offensive Team Needs: OT, QB, RB
Projected Cap Space: $21,803,568
Key Free Agents: Justin Pugh, G; Weston Richburg, C

New York Giants fans are loyal to Eli Manning, but the time has come to find his replacement. Manning is 37 years old, and whether or not he can still help a team win in 2018, he’s closer to the end than he is the prime of his career.

Kirk Cousins would certainly elevate the Giants’ quality of quarterback play from a pure production perspective, but Dave Gettleman can’t afford to take this risk.

New York has one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, which is the primary reason for its inconsistency under center. Thus, while adding Cousins could help, it wouldn’t change the fact that the offensive line fails to create time in the pocket.

Cousins may be able to do more than Manning as far as airing it out is concerned, but he would likely encounter the same issues with turnovers as he faces constant pressure.

Instead of maneuvering to be able to spend big on a quarterback, the Giants should stick to the 2018 NFL Draft. New York could find the running back of the future in Saquon Barkley, a franchise quarterback to groom behind Eli Manning, or trade down for an offensive lineman.

There are certainly other options, but that’s the entire point here: New York needs to keep its options open. Clearing space to go after Cousins would be counterproductive.

Come free agency, New York should instead try to sign an offensive lineman who can solidify its fractured unit.

Ideal Fits: Josh Allen, Wyoming Cowboys; Sam Darnold, USC Trojans; Josh Rosen, UCLA Bruins

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