Unbeknownst to some of last year’s NFL draft, Robert Griffin III was not the only quarterback selected by the Washington Redskins. Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins was selected 102nd in the fourth round as a safe-guard against injury to their new face of franchise, Griffin III. Fortunately for the Redskins, Cousins was able to step up in times of trouble, at least on a limited basis. Cousins played in four games in 2012 for Washington, and the Redskins recorded a .500 record in those games, though they did lose in the division round of the playoffs after Cousins took over against Seattle.  Regardless, Cousins’ encouraging play has made him the target of many suitors across the league.

Cousins’ greatest value to the Redskins may be in terms of trade value, as they have capable backup Rex Grossman already on the roster. As Griffin III continues to develop into an NFL superstar, Cousins’ maturation will be overshadowed as long as he in Washington. In his three appearances during the 2012 regular season, Cousins threw 48 times for 33 completions which resulted in 466 yards and four touchdowns with three interceptions. While this is no record breaking feat, Cousins did throw for 329 yards in a game against a tough Cleveland Browns’ secondary. After showing promise in the 2012 season, the Redskins were excited to see how their young quarterback had progressed over the offseason.

With the NLF season now just weeks away, Cousins’ play thus far has opposing franchises yearning for his skills. In the Redskin’s first preseason game against the Titans, Cousins threw seven passes, one of which a touchdown to tight end Fred Davis. Despite playing only two series, Cousins showed poise in the pocket and a visible increase in field and playbook awareness. Other than a dropped pass by Logan Paulsen , Cousins was perfect against the Titans recoding six completions and 52 yards giving him a quarterback rating of 137.2. If cousins could produce at 75% of this level across a full season, he would be a great fit for 10-plus NFL teams in the coming years.

Washington’s lucked out in the 2012 draft despite their failure to land the Stanford quarterback. Griffin III has become the face of a franchise, and Cousins is primed to become major trade bait. The former Spartan is showing tremendous maturity in his second season, and full understanding of a pro-style offense. With NFL quality talent, and an above-average football IQ, one cannot expect Cousins to remain on the Redskins’ bench for long.