HOW WASHINGTON COULD DIG ITS WAY OUT

Author: Nicholas Petersen

Things are starting to get interesting in the lead up to the new league year. Washington seems to be going back to its (horrible) off-season antics of making truly bone-headed roster moves, as it is being reported that the Redskins may ship Quarterback Kirk Cousins off to San Francisco in exchange for what is expected to be a bouquet of draft picks. And not the cheap bouquet that you get in the supermarket when you’ve forgotten your anniversary. I’m talking the three-figure FTD deals with stuffed animals and heirloom quality vases.

If this verifies, Redskins fans are likely to roll their eyes once again while 49ers fans celebrate the return of relevance following the implosion formerly known as Colin Kaepernick. The Redskins are in the position of strength, having the commodity that the Niners so desperately desire. But San Fran has both deep pockets and a strong showing in the draft this year. Giving Washington the second overall pick and their third rounder - maybe a second rounder next year as well? - isn’t outside the realm of possibility, and would allow San Francisco to shore up their single biggest weakness with the click of a send button - a steal, considering that they’d get Washington’s franchise QB. Not only that, it would give them ample negotiating room and the lure of an established leader to make up the difference in free agency. Expect San Francisco to make every effort for this to happen - and to pay dearly.

As riveting as this all might be for arm chair Bill Belichick's, where it really gets interesting is the next step for Washington - who will become the new face of the franchise? Do they really think that Colt McCoy is the long-term answer - even the short-term answer? If so, they are fooling themselves. On the wrong side of 30, McCoy has fewer upsides than they would like. And there’s no dynamo QB in the draft this year, so maybe Washington would be open to another trade?

Enter Jimmy Garoppolo, erstwhile QB and heir apparent to the immortal (literally, it seems) Tom Brady of New England. All signs point to the Chiseled Chin heading to Cleveland, but Washington may make a play for his services. The asking price is supposedly multiple first round picks, and Washington has shown its willingness to pay that steep a price before. They may be willing to trade away whatever they get from San Fransisco in the process, or maybe even Josh Norman. There are reasons aplenty to make this an intriguing, if unlikely, possibility.

Then again, who would have thought that Washington would be willing to even consider trading away the man who saved them from the hole it dug for itself with RGIII.