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ASHBURN Wes Martin Jersey , Va. (AP)The Christmas-colored gift bags with Nikes and more filled the lockers of each offensive lineman. It was Kirk Cousins’ way of saying thank you, a better parting gift than his three interceptions in what could be his final game with the Washington Redskins that exacerbated the debate about whether they should keep him or sign him long term. Now the Redskins are in the same spot as they were a year ago, with coach Jay Gruden’s job safe but the same uncertainty about Cousins, who has played the past two seasons on the franchise tag and could be ticketed for another one-year deal or a departure that would create even more questions. ”It is the same old story, but now it’s more real than ever and everybody’s going to do whatever they can right now to try to dissect the situation,” linebacker Will Compton said Monday on locker cleanout day. ”It’s all going to be, `Should they pay him? Should they not pay him? Is he going to come back? Does he want to come back?”’ Yes, it is. Washington went 9-7, 8-7-1 and 7-9 in Cousins’ three seasons as its starting quarterback with this past season getting derailed by several key injuries. Asked Tuesday to evaluate Cousins’ 2017, Gruden said, ”When you’re 7-9, it’s hard to say, `Wow, this guy really was outstanding,”’ then added: ”Kirk had his flashes where he was really good.” As for moving forward, the coach said: ”Whether he’s here or not, we have to figure out ways that we’re going to make this team better.” Cousins became the first QB in franchise history to start 16 games in each of three consecutive seasons and threw for 4,000 yards in all of them, with 81 touchdowns and 36 interceptions, but enough bad games and decisions to fuel the doubters and leave the front office unwilling to commit to what could be a bigger deal than what the Oakland Raiders gave Derek Carr. ”He’s an amazing quarterback,” right tackle Morgan Moses said. ”He’s an elite quarterback in my eyes. He has the smarts, he has the tools, he gets the ball out of his hands fast, he’s able to read defenses – all the things you ask a quarterback to do in the NFL.” If Cousins does return, he will continue to work with quarterbacks coach Kevin O’Connell. Gruden announced Tuesday that O’Connell will be back, adding the title of passing game coordinator. Cousins on Sunday said, ”I’ll use all the time that I can” to make a decision about his future. The 29-year-old said he knows how to handle going year-to-year, while Gruden said getting stability at quarterback is central to the organization’s next few steps. ”If you got (a quarterback) Womens Bryce Love Jersey , you would like to keep one, but you want to make that decision pretty soon or Kirk will also, so it’s not totally up to us, you know?” Gruden said. ”Kirk’s got to buy in, also.” Cousins held things together when the Redskins dealt with season-ending injuries to running backs Chris Thompson and Rob Kelley, tight end Jordan Reed, receiver Terrelle Pryor and offensive linemen Trent Williams, Shawn Lauvao and Spencer Long. Teammates have spent days and weeks saying they want him back while fully conceding they have no idea what’s going to go down. ”Whatever happens, we’ve got to just roll with it and be ready for whatever,” receiver Jamison Crowder said. ”I think it would definitely be a bonus – a good thing – to have him back, especially with the chemistry that we all have within the offense. Hopefully he can come back.” Here’s some things to watch with the Redskins: INJURY FALLOUT: The Redskins finished the season with more than a dozen regulars on injured reserve. Washington never got to see a chance how good it could be with a full season from Thompson, Kelley, Reed, Williams, Pryor, rookie defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, linebackers Compton and Mason Foster and others. ”Injuries happen, but I didn’t think guys here took care of their bodies personally,” Swearinger said. Swearinger intends to keep teammates on that, though president Bruce Allen, senior vice president of player personnel Doug Williams and Gruden could also make roster choices based on who could stay healthy. Asked about keeping the roster healthier next season, Gruden said: ”I don’t think there’s any doubt that’s something we have to take a close look at.” SKILL POSITIONING: After seven running backs carried the ball in 2017, there’s no clarity on who will be the starter in 2018. The same goes at receiver in the post DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon era after Crowder and Ryan Grant were Cousins’ favorite targets. Maybe the next step belongs to 2016 first-round pick Josh Doctson, who followed an injury-plagued rookie season by leading the Redskins with six touchdown catches. ”I feel like he showed us a little glimpse of his talent,” Crowder said. ”He just kind of got his feet wet this year. I know next year he’ll come back, he’s going to be one of the top receivers in this league.” NORMAN’S STAND: When cornerback Josh Norman signed a $75 million, five-year contract, he wanted to be part of the same success that he was with the Carolina Panthers. Instead https://www.theredskinslockerroom.com/authentic-terry-mclaurin-jersey , he lamented that Redskins players ”got trash bags” instead of travel bags on New Year’s Day and vowed to help make things better. ”Just got to go back to the drawing board,” Norman said. ”Obviously it’s very, very disappointing. … Looking forward to 2018 and preparing a better approach.” YOUTH: Injuries, particularly on defense, gave the Redskins a good look at young players such as second-year defensive linemen Matt Ioannidis and Anthony Lanier, third-year receiver turned cornerback Quinton Dunbar and rookie defensive backs Fabian Moreau and Montae Nicholson. They should be the building blocks of a defense that needs to improve. ”I felt like we took some strides up front this year, especially with our defensive line play – Matt Ioannidis, Lanier, Jonathan Allen,” linebacker Ryan Kerrigan said. ”All those guys played big roles for us. You look at Matt and Anthony, Jon, those guys are young and feel like can be really, really productive players in this league.” HALL’S DECISION: Safety DeAngelo Hall is considering retirement at age 34 after 14 NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Oakland Raiders and Redskins. Hall might want to get into coaching, but isn’t closing the door on keeping his playing career going. ”At some point, you know,” Hall said. ”I don’t know yet, but I’m feeling like I’m getting close to knowing.” — Hogs Haven takes a look at 2019 NFL Draft prospects who could contribute to the Redskins"Jaylen Smith, WRSchool: Louisville | Conference: ACCCollege Experience: Senior | Age: 22?Height / Weight: 6-2 / 219 lbsProjected Draft Status: 6th or 7th RoundNFL Comparison: Jalen TolliverCollege StatisticsPlayer OverviewJaylen Smith was 3-star prospect from Pascagoula, Mississippi. He received offers from Ole Miss, Cincinnati, and Nebraska but chose Louisville because of their fast paced spread offense and because he knew he would get opportunities early in his career. Smith’s college career really took off during Lamar Jackson’s Heisman winning season in 2016. In that epic season Smith’s receiving yardage total was 4th best on the team but his touchdown total was 2nd on the team. The following year the chemistry between Jackson and Smith improved further and lead to Smith’s best statistical year in his career. Many (possibly Smith himself) think that he should have declared early instead of staying for his senior season. The momentum of the season was with him but he ultimately decided to go back to school because of a wrist injury that would not have allowed him to compete very much in the offseason. Weighing the risk of being labeled with a red flag due to injury he decided to take his chances and go back to school. Smiths numbers declined sharply with a new QB after Jackson left and unfortunately he had an unremarkable season. Smith has some upside and we can see that in his 2017 tape. He can be a contributor at the next level with a QB that can get him the ball.Strengths Excellent size, length, and good speed for the position.Reliable pass catcher when it’s delivered to him between the numbers uses his size and speed to create separation in his routes. Has a possession receiver mentality underneath and looks to gain more yards after the catch and uses his body to do so but also has the straight line speed to challenge defenses vertically and can produce chunk plays. Has the ability to play outside and make plays in the slot. Routes could use polish but are effective, not sloppy, plus he makes decent cuts that aid in separation. Release off the LOS is smooth and he can accelerate to top speed pretty quickly. Has the length and size to make those harder catches outside his frameWeaknessesDrop off from 2016/2017 to 2018 is significant not just in stats but in competitive nature and fire. of the player they are getting before they spend any draft pick.Has some obvious stiffness in his movements and could have better body control and overall ability to adjust to the ball when its delivered in tough places. Will give up on some throws instead if fight for them to ensure the defense doesn’t get to it.No one skill really stands out above the rest and against the average baseline.Wish he was more physical as a blocker for his teammates. Let’s see his work:More Jaylen Smith videosHow He Would Fit On The RedskinsSmith has some clear limitations and I think his ceiling is probably a contributor as a WR4 at the next level. He doesn’t seem to have some of the key abilities to really take large and significant steps forward regarding his abilities as a player. I think he can improve his route running and blocking ability which could led to him getting on the field more but those are labors related to effort and will. He’ll have to do that anyway on special teams if he wants to make a roster. I’m sure no one was more disappointed in their senior season than Smith was. There were clear moments of frustration from him last season but I hope he has convinced NFL teams that he has moved past that adversity and is willing to put it the work to get better despite what NFL situation he ends up in. I like his size and straight line speed and think he can be effective at all 3 levels of the field as he’s shown in college. He’ll have to fight for his opportunities against other height / weight / speed guys like Cam Simms and Robert Davis on the roster though. Optimistically Smith could surprise in camp and could surprise some more if he’s able to make plays in scrimmages and in the preseason. Physically he seems to fit the mold of some of the WRs the Redskins have drafted late or signed as UDFAs recently.