Cousins is the NFL leader in pass completions of 25+ yards since 2016.
Here’s the deal: one cannot lead in the NFL in completions of 25 yards or more and also be a checkdown quarterback. The logic of the checkdown argument dies painfully right here.
In the last four years, Cousins has been that leader. He has 143 completions of 25+ yards since 2016. The closest suitor to this mark is Tom Brady with 138 such completions. Current divisional rival Aaron Rodgers has 118 in the same time frame.
What’s more, this is not merely a “volume” thing for Cousins. He’s been fortunate to remain unbelievably healthy in his career; this is true. Indeed, Cousins has had ample attempts to throw the football because of this, but he is not the passing attempt leader since 2016. Quarterbacks like Matt Ryan, Philip Rivers, and Brady have thrown the ball more than Cousins.
If one is still somehow not convinced, Kirk Cousins also leads the NFL in 60+ yard completions in the last half-decade. Since becoming a full-time starting quarterback, Cousins has delivered 13 completions that gained 60 or more yards. In regard to this metric, Ben Roethlisberger is directly behind Cousins with 12 completions of 60+ yards.
It is downright preposterous to suggest a leader in 25+ yard completions and 60+ yard completions during his career is a “checkdown guy.” Laughable even.