Kirk Cousins replaced a Heisman Trophy winner. Now his job might be filled by one.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s first mock projected Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield to the Washington Redskins with the 13th pick in the first round, though he did so with a caveat.

The pick assumes that Cousins indeed leaves via free agency. Otherwise, Kiper wrote, inside linebacker is a primary position of need. Yes, it is, but that doesn’t mean it would be addressed at 13. Depending on what happens in free agency, finding another interior pass-rushing lineman or running back also could be a priority. In a nutshell, though, Kiper projected Mayfield to the Redskins because it's a need and he would be the best quarterback available at 13.

There are multiple scenarios that could play out for Washington and affect what it does at quarterback. But if Cousins goes and the Redskins go with Colt McCoy, they’ll draft a quarterback in the early rounds. Even if they believe in McCoy -- and coach Jay Gruden does -- he hasn’t proven himself over 16 games. The Redskins can’t assume anything about his performance and plan for now and the future. Plus, they need a young passer to develop.

And a lot of this depends on if the Redskins sign someone else in free agency -- Sam Bradford? Teddy Bridgewater? Either one of those two Minnesota Vikings passers would have to be in play if the team decides to re-sign Case Keenum.

Even then, with McCoy in the last year of a contract, they have to draft a quarterback at some point. Heck, if they keep Cousins on another one-year deal they’d be wise to draft one.

Keep in mind the last two times the Redskins have swung big on quarterbacks -- Donovan McNabb and Robert Griffin III -- the move was only met with lukewarm support by the head coach. Some of that might be revisionist history by other people, but not all. And in Griffin’s case, the hesitancy wasn’t about him as much as it was about how much they had to surrender. Still, the point was that the organization made a move not all said they strongly supported.

Mayfield makes some sense from the standpoint that he might still be around at 13 -- or the Redskins wouldn’t have to trade up high to land him.

But one thing that should help is that they have a head coach who was a former quarterback and a senior vice president of player personnel in Doug Williams who, of course, was one as well. That should be a benefit, provided everyone listens to what they have to say. They’ll also have a chance to scout Mayfield up close at the Senior Bowl; possible first-round quarterbacks don’t always attend the event in Alabama.

So why Mayfield? In a lot of ways he’s like McCoy -- though in terms of his draft stock, the NFL would consider Mayfield obviously a better version. And there were zero character concerns about McCoy coming out of college, unlike with Mayfield.

Mayfield can extend plays and displays moxie; teammates seemed to respond to him (teammates love McCoy). He can be accurate down the field. He made some plays in college he won’t be able to in the NFL -- throwing back to the middle of the field or throwing the ball up for grabs. But being able to go off-schedule would appeal to Gruden. Mayfield’s size (around 6-foot) might matter to the Redskins and they’d have to be sold on the character, too. Then they must love his game.

At quarterback, you need the first-in, last-out type. Both Cousins and McCoy are that way. This story shows how hard McCoy has worked just to stay sharp as a backup.

Mayfield also would generate buzz for a franchise that could use some if Cousins leaves. Is that a reason to draft him? No. And it’s not as if the fan base is craving Mayfield; he’s a prospect some love and others don’t. But that buzz would be an offshoot of adding him. Young quarterbacks always provide a modicum of hope, too. Nobody provided more than Griffin, a Heisman winner as well. Ironically, Cousins is the only quarterback Washington has drafted since 1989 who has panned out.

So get used to the speculation. Mayfield seems to be a popular guy to the Redskins on mock drafts because he’s the one who seems to be most within reach. Also, everyone knows there’s a real chance Cousins is gone. In the end, whether or not Mayfield makes sense, drafting a quarterback certainly does.