The Washington Redskins are entering an interesting year, not because it's Kirk Cousins's contract year, but because this team will have to contend in a tough division with teams like the Cowboys and the ever-improved Giants and Eagles. But can they finally make a jump forward and maybe make some noise this season?
Let's recap what happened to the Washington Redskins in this offseason. There was a lot of drama and a lot of players that let this team. Two seasons ago, they actually won the NFC East. Since then, it's been a mess. This offseason, they fired GM SCot McCloughan and many have viewed it as clumsy and as the lowest point in the organization for the Redskins, because he actually admitted to having a drinking problem and it seemed like they didn't do anything about it. It made the biggest problem in what may be seem as a quiet offseason, but to me, it wasn't all that quiet.
Then there was the Cousins drama. Cousins did not want to take a big contract with this team and instead they franchised him again. Now, Cousins will have to play another year and he'll have to prove he's worth a long-term contract and the money they'll be paying him not only for this season but perhaps for another season as well.
The Redskins will also have to deal with a new offensive coordinator, after Sean McVay left to take the head coaching job in Los Angeles. McVay was critical for Cousins's success last season, and now it looks like Cousins will have to work with a new offense in a new situation sort-of.
The Redskins also lost two wide receiver stars in both Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson. Terrelle Pryor could replace some of that offensive output, but we don't even know how he might fit into this scheme. Plus, Jackson is one of the best receivers in the NFL. The Redskins might've looked stupid not to bring him back.
Losing defense is not a great sign for this team either in losing defensive end Chris Baker and defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois. They did bring in guys like linebacker Zach Brown and tackles Stacy McGee and Terrell McClain, though we're left to wonder how they'll mix in with this Washington defense.
So what does this all mean for the Redskins? Are we going to see a jump forward and put them in contention? Or are we looking at another season of being outside the playoff picture? I believe that the NFC East is going to be one of the tougher divisions to compete in. Let's face it: The Cowboys, the Giants, and the Eagles all improved this offseason, with the Giants having been a significant team that jumped forward. I'm not buying enough into Kirk Cousins to believe that he can make siginificant progress, especially under a new offensive coordinator with perhaps a new scheme. The defense last season wasn't really great and I don't really expect them to change all that much, and I believe DeSean Jackson's absence is going to hurt them tremendously. Terrelle Pryor doesn't bring the same skill and power that Jackson had, as well as Pierre Garcon, so it's worrisome.
To me, the Washington Redskins just look like a bunch of idiots. Kirk Cousins looks like he's not going to stay there after this season. He could end up in San Francisco or Los Angeles this season and he's betting on himself against a division that's very tough. And I believe the Redskins are going to end up on the outside of that division because of that.
So while they seemed to have maybe an okay offseason, I don't think it's enough to make any noise or make any significant progress in this division. Therefore, I believe it's going to be another season of disappointment in Washington and I believe it's going to be the season where Kirk Cousins is going to do well but not enough. So I see the Redskins finishing maybe 5-11 or so and missing the playoffs. The division is tough, no doubt about that, but the drama surrounding this team and how they handled their offseason might sink this team sometime this season.
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