The list of ways Dan Snyder messed up his Washington property could fill a book. And it continues to grow.
Washington received an offer in 2017 to trade quarterback Kirk Cousins to the 49ers in a deal that included the No. 2 pick in the draft, according to former Washington coach Mike Shanahan.
Jay Gruden, Washington’s coach at the time, confirmed the story in an interview on 106.7 The Fan, along with the reason it was dismissed: Snyder’s apparent dislike of the Shanahans.
“(Dan Snyder and Bruce Allen) didn’t like the Shanahans and they didn’t want to give them Kirk,” Gruden told the radio station.
Kyle Shanahan was entering his first year as head coach of the 49ers.
San Francisco ultimately traded the second overall pick, with the Bears sending the third overall pick, a third-rounder, a fourth-rounder and a 2018 third-rounder to the Niners so they could draft Mitch Trubusky, as the Niners chose Solomon Thomas third. . (By the way, the 67th overall pick the Niners acquired in that deal became Alvin Kamara, with the Saints trading the pick later in the draft).
The Shanahans had history with Cousins, as Mike and Kyle were Washington’s head coach and offensive coordinator, respectively, when the team drafted Cousins in 2012.
“I won’t say who contacted me, but I was contacted by someone there who said they were very interested,” Gruden said. “(Cousins) was getting ready to start their second franchise, and I know they wanted it. The Shanahans love Kirk, and he loves them, and I don’t blame them. They brought him here and taught him some good ball skills, and we were fortunate to keep Kirk and work with him.
Washington ultimately lost Cousins for no return except a conditional third-round pick, as he signed a three-year, $84 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent until 2018.
That sent the team into a familiar spiral at the quarterback position that they haven’t quite gotten out of yet, although they hope Sam Howell can be the answer.
Gruden also lost his job after going 7-9 in 2018, when Alex Smith was injured in Week 11 and Washington lost five of its last six games with the combination of Josh Johnson, Colt McCoy and Mark Sanchez as quarterback.
“It’s a shame,” Gruden said. “We had such a sought-after product, a talented young player with a bright future ahead of him, and we got nothing for him.
“This is the worst decision we have made as a franchise. A conditional third round? The way to handle this is to maximize your return.
Snyder, however, might hold a grudge.
Even to the extreme detriment of his own franchise.
New York Post
