ASHBURN — The Redskins stunned no one with their first quarterback choice. But they did just that with their second, selecting Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins in the fourth round.
And then they made a move that wasn’t too surprising when they released backup quarterback John Beck. A year ago he was hailed by coach Mike Shanahan as a possible starter, but he couldn’t beat out Rex Grossman last summer and stumbled in three starts last season.
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After drafting Robert Griffin III and then Cousins, the Redskins had no need for Beck, whom they acquired from Baltimore for cornerback Doug Dutch in 2010. They also have Grossman and Jonathan Crompton under contract.
“Everybody knows that anytime you get a quarterback like Robert … he’s your franchise quarterback; he’ll be your quarterback for the next decade,” Shanahan said. “In the fourth round, you’re trying to find people that can make your team. Kirk is a quality young man. … I’m sure he knows he’ll be a backup, but you’re only a play away or two plays away from being a starter. I’m hoping Robert for the next 10 years never misses a game.
“[Griffin] knows he’s our future. He was pretty good about it. He understood. He does have a lot of confidence; he’s not afraid.”
The Redskins became the first team since 1989 to draft two quarterbacks within the first four rounds.
“It’s a little surprising,” Cousins said. “I was trying to forecast which teams will be looking at a quarterback and did not see the Redskins thinking along those lines.”
Cousins was 27-12 as a starter at Michigan State, including 3-0 vs. Michigan. He’s MSU’s career leader in touchdown passes (66), passing yards (9,131) and passing efficiency (146.1 rating).
One scout said of Cousins, “He has all the physical skills. His problem is making bad decisions. But if you’re looking for a QB, he’s smart and he’s tough and he has the production. Some QB coach or coordinator will say, ‘I can help him make better decisions.’ Especially if he doesn’t have to start right away.”
Cousins said he wasn’t bothered going to a team that had just drafted a quarterback in the first round.
“Right now my job is to go into rookie minicamp and pick up on the playbook,” he said. “Certainly Robert Griffin, there’s a lot of hope in him in the future.”
Cousins also said he’s familiar with the last time the Redskins drafted two quarterbacks: Heath Shuler (first round) and Gus Frerotte (seventh round) in 1994. Frerotte ended up the better of the two.
“I’ve head Mark Schlereth tell that story on multiple occasions,” Cousins said. “I’ll work as hard as I can. There are a lot of things I can’t control, like where I’m drafted.”
The Redskins also drafted another guard, Iowa’s Adam Gettis in the fifth round after taking SMU guard Josh LeRibeus in the third round.
They also chose Texas linebacker Keenan Robinson in the fourth round, with plans to move him inside. They had two sixth-round picks: Florida Atlantic running back Alfred Morris and South Dakota tackle/guard Tom Compton. Morris also can play fullback, but he fumbled 16 times in 762 career carries. Compton started two years at both left and right tackle, respectively, and is a good athlete. Their final two picks were defensive backs Richard Crawford, a corner from SMU, and Jordan Bernstine, a safety from Iowa.
