Coming in at #13 on my list is the steady Kirk Cousins.
Kirk Cousins is one of the most intriguing quarterbacks in the NFL. After a solid career at Michigan State, Cousins was taken as a fourth round selection in the 2012 NFL Draft. Fourth rounders aren't really expected to be great or even start, but over three years of making the most of his opportunity, Cousins became a legit full time starter in 2015, his fourth season, and never looked back.
Now, for the past decade Cousins has been flirting with being called elite but never really making it there. His playstyle can probably be successful in any era of football. He's a quality pocket passer with pretty good football IQ. Can manage the game and win a lot of games in general. What Cousins lacks is athleticism and any real clutchness.
Overall, there's a lot to like about Cousins' game. I know he can be considered a stat padder I guess, but when you look at the big picture with him, he's putting together a solid career.
Here's some surprising facts about Cousins so far in his career:
- In eight seasons as a starter he's missed only a single start
- He's won at least seven games in each season as a starter
- Has passed for 4,000+ yards in 7/8 seasons as a starter
- Will pass 40,000 passing yards for his career in 2023 if he stays healthy
- Has 252 Passing Touchdowns
What Cousins lacks is a clutch factor and just more wins in general. His teams have never been terrible, but they've also rarely been great. He's led his team to double digit wins only twice. He's been to the playoffs three times and has just one win. It's a decent win at least. Over the Saints in a dramatic win.
Cousins is having a good enough career to put him comfortably at #13. Will be interesting to see if he can ever get it done in the playoffs.
