With training camp set to begin later this month, Redskins.com previews the current state of the Redskins' roster, starting today with the team's quarterbacks.
The Washington Redskins will head to training camp this year with a clear hierarchy at the quarterback position.
At the top of the depth chart is fifth-year veteran Kirk Cousins. Backing him up this season will be Colt McCoy and rookie Nate Sudfeld.
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Before the Redskins head to Richmond for training camp, check out who all is on the roster position-by-position. Today, it is the quarterbacks.
ROSTER SUBTRACTION(S):**-Robert Griffin III (Released; Signed By Cleveland Browns)
KEY ADDITION(S):-Nate Sudfeld (Drafted With The No. 187-Overall Pick)
CURRENT STATE OF THE UNIT:
Last season, Cousins outperformed McCoy and fellow 2012 draft pick Robert Griffin III for the right to be the team's starting quarterback.
While Cousins had mixed results to start the year, throwing two interceptions in four of the Redskins' first six games, an all-time comeback performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7 started a remarkable turnaround for the Michigan State product.
Not only would Cousins throw for 317 yards and three touchdowns to no interceptions in the 31-30 victory, he started Washington's scoring that afternoon with a rushing touchdown.
In the Redskins' next eight games, Cousins threw for 20 touchdowns to just three interceptions, leading Washington to an NFC East title.
Cousins was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for December, as he completed 111-of-151 passes (73.5 percent) for 1,379 yards with 13 touchdowns and only one interception for a passer rating of 127.3 in the Redskins' final four games.
Additionally, Cousins set single-season team records for attempts (543), completions (379), passing yards (4,166) and 300-yard passing games (seven).
In March, the Redskins placed the franchise tag on Cousins, which the quarterback quickly signed.
The Redskins also re-signed McCoy to a reported multi-year deal this offseason after the University of Texas product spent his first two seasons in Washington on one-year contracts.
During his first season with the Redskins in 2014, McCoy appeared in five games with four starts, throwing for 1,057 yards and four touchdowns.
McCoy came in for relief of Cousins in his first appearance for the Redskins, leading Washington to a late victory over the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 19, 2014.
The next week on Monday Night Football, McCoy pieced together his best performance for the Redskins to date, connecting on 25-of-30 passes for 299 yards and a rushing touchdown in a 20-17 overtime victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
McCoy appeared in just two games last season – both in decisive Redskins victory – throwing for 128 yards and a touchdown.
After releasing Griffin III in March, the Redskins rounded out the quarterback depth chart with Sudfeld, a sixth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Sudfeld, 6-foot-6, 235 pounds, appeared in 37 games for Indiana over the course of four seasons, collecting 7,879 yards and 66 touchdowns to just 20 interceptions.
During his senior season in 2015, Sudfeld earned third-team All-Big Ten honors, setting career highs in passing yards (3,573) and touchdown passes (27) while throwing just seven interceptions on 412 passing attempts.
WHAT TO WATCH:
Unlike last season where all three quarterbacks were fighting for playing time, Cousins, McCoy and Sudfeld all have individual storylines to follow.
Let's start with Cousins, who will be taking all of the first-team reps for the first time in his career.
Despite working with just the second- and third-team offenses last season, Cousins stepped into the starting lineup and excelled.
This year, Cousins gets a jumpstart on nailing down chemistry with the team's top weapons, whether that be a healthy DeSean Jackson, the team's loaded tight ends corps or first-round pick Josh Doctson.
One of the primary reasons McCoy ultimately decided Washington would be his home for the foreseeable future was because of his familiarity with the offense.
Prior to joining the Redskins in 2014, McCoy was constantly dealt change and new head coaches and offensive coordinators during his stints with the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. McCoy may look the most comfortable he's ever been since entering the league in 2010.
For Sudfeld, training camp will give him his first lengthy test against NFL competition.
The sixth-round pick has the size and talent to potentially be a contributor for the Redskins in the future, but his first training camp will be about adjusting to the NFL, something that takes time for rookie quarterbacks.
