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Kirk Cousins trade rumors: 5 best destinations

By John Buhler

Dec 24, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) in action during the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The Redskins defeat the Bears 41-21. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) in action during the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The Redskins defeat the Bears 41-21. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 24, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws the ball against the Chicago Bears during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws the ball against the Chicago Bears during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kansas City Chiefs

AFC, West

2017 may be the last year of the Alex Smith era with the Kansas City Chiefs. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback has to get the Chiefs to the AFC Championship this January. Kansas City’s roster is too strong for an early January playoff exodus. A lot of the Chiefs’ limitations hinge on Smith’s shortcomings as a quarterback.

Trading with Washington for Cousins could be mutually beneficial for both teams. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid would get a franchise quarterback for the next five years that is totally fine with throwing the ball down the field. If Cousins can hover around .500 quarterbacking Washington, imagine what he could do with the Kansas City defense backing him up?

Washington may want Kansas City’s No. 27 pick this spring, Smith, and a defensive player. It’d be a bit steep for Kansas City to make the deal, so Washington could send a mid-round pick Kansas City’s way to even out the move. It may be better for Kansas City to send Washington its 2018 first-round pick instead, as that could be anything.

To hang tough in the AFC West, Kansas City will need a quarterback the next few years that can compete with Oakland Raiders starter Derek Carr. Once Philip Rivers retires, the AFC West might end up being Carr’s division and Kansas City won’t like that.

Kansas City has the defensive players and the placeholder quarterback in Smith to make a deal with the Redskins. However, the Chiefs have finite salary cap flexibility. Signing Cousins to a long-term deal would be the right call after the theoretical trade, but to what degree would that shape Kansas City’s defense remains to be seen.

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