Is Kirk Cousins Really in The Same Tier as Jared Goff?

Oct 3, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) passes in the second half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports

For some, the headline will be outlandish. Kirk Cousins is far better than Jared Goff. Even still, a recent piece on PFF argues that the two both belong in the same broad category for QBs.

According to Seth Galina, both NFC North QBs find themselves in “Tier D: Play-Action Merchants — Propped up by scheme.” Overall, the ranking for Tier D includes Ryan Tannehill at 1, Cousins at 2, Jimmy Garoppolo at 3, and Goff at 4:

This tier has similar grades and WAR to the tier above but benefits from their team’s scheme more. Cousins has been the most successful per PFF grade and WAR over the last five seasons, as he bests Tannehill’s 2.06 WAR per season (2.57). However, since Tannehill joined the Titans in 2019 and became a play-action merchant, his 3.01 WAR per season is better than Cousins’ 2.86. He gets the nod, but the case can be made for either of them.

Garoppolo and Goff are also in the same tier but because Goff’s record in years where Sean McVay is not his head coach and playcaller is horrendous, the 49ers quarterback — who may not even start this year — is ahead. Goff’s WAR per season with McVay was 2.41, but it’s called to 0.21 since he left Los Angeles.

Placing Kirk Cousins alongside Tannehill and Garoppolo makes some sense, but the Jared Goff connection still feels like a stretch.

Prior to arriving in Detroit, Goff had a near perfect situation in LA. A boy genius was calling the plays within an offense with tremendous talent surrounding the QB. LA’s top-tier defense also makes a difference given that strong defensive play puts an offense in better field position on a consistent basis.

Last year, the difference between Cousins’ and Goff’s stats were pretty night and day (shout out to PFR):

  • Cousins: 66.3 completion percentage, 4221 passing yards, 33 TDs, and 7 INTs.
  • Goff: 67.2 completion percentage, 3245 passing yards, 19 TDs, and 8 INTs.

It’s also worth mentioning, perhaps, that Cousins finished 6th in the PFF QB scores in 2021. Goff comes in at 31st. That’s a wide distance, and it’d be difficult to suggest that the only difference rests in Mr. Cousins having better skill players (which he certainly does).

At some point, Cousins can hopefully show that he belongs among the truly top-level NFL QBs. The only way he can do so is by winning on a consistent basis. Cousins has always put forth strong statistics – both conventional and advanced – and he still gets the modest assessments. No matter what anyone says about whether it should or shouldn’t be included, wins are a massively important part of our QB evaluation. The ones who win the most get the most respect.

Cousins’ ability to start putting more games in the win pile will force evaluators to give him more accolades.

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