Washington Redskins
At this point, making Washington’s fan base even more miserable seems cruel, but the fact remains: The Redskins need to tank.
Washington has put off a decision on Kirk Cousins’ future two years in a row because they know that giving him $100 million will end badly. Cousins isn’t a horrible quarterback, he’s just replacement level. He’s been helped greatly by a strong coaching staff and one of the best receiving corps in football. But now that offensive coordinator Sean McVay and receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon are gone, get ready for Cousins to look a little worse.
With tight end Jordan Reed and wide receiver Jamison Crowder still around, Cousins may still lead the Redskins to 8-8, but that’s the ceiling right now.
Better to let Cousins go in free agency (likely to the San Francisco 49ers), tank and draft a replacement who could be a superstar than devote $25 million-plus annually in cap space to a quarterback who will struggle to win in the postseason without a great supporting cast.