5 starting quarterbacks facing do-or-die seasons

Kirk Cousins, Washington

Washington’s football team is an absolute mess, with incompetent management, a clueless coach and a former top-pick quarterback who is turning into a Ryan Leaf-sized bust. Into that void steps Kirk Cousins, a fourth-round pick from the 2012 draft who has started at least one game in each of his four seasons. After going 1-4 during his five starts in 2014, the 27-year-old needs to prove himself this year or he’ll almost surely be out in Washington, along with everyone else.

While Robert Griffin III has seen his career completely collapse, Cousins hasn’t exactly set the world on fire. During his first three seasons, the Michigan State product played in 14 games, starting nine, and completed just 59.0 percent of his passes for 3,030 yards, with 18 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. His quarterback rating of 77.5 was well below average.

Now Cousins is the undisputed starter in Washington and things didn’t get much better in his first start of the 2015 season. In a 17-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins, he completed 21 of 31 passes (67.7 percent) for 196 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. Things were better in the Week 2 win, where Cousins went 23-for-27 for 203 yards and one touchdown. Still, though, it has been an uneven start for a quarterback who has yet to seize any of the opportunities he has been given in Washington.

Head coach Jay Gruden is on thin ice in just his second season and new general manager Scot McCloughan will probably want a fresh start at quarterback if the team tanks this season. With RG3 likely done in Washington, Cousins may not be far behind if he can’t prove himself in 2015.

Next: Sam Bradford