Report: Kirk Cousins ‘likely’ to get franchise tag from Redskins again

The Washington Redskins and Kirk Cousins remain unable to come to an agreement on a long-term contract extension, and it is starting to sound like it may stay that way through the 2017 season.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole, the Redskins are “likely” to franchise tag Cousins again this upcoming offseason. The number for franchise tagging a quarterback is expected to be around $25 million for 2017, so Cousins will be one of the top-paid players at his position. However, he would obviously prefer more guaranteed money and long-term security.

As Cole notes, Derek Carr and Matthew Stafford are entering the final years of their contracts with the Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions, respectively. Cousins may be hesitant to agree to a deal with Washington before he sees what Carr and Stafford are going to be paid, and there have been rumblings that Stafford is asking for a lot.

While there was some belief that Cousins’ impressive 2015 season was a fluke, he’s on pace for an even better year in 2016. The 28-year-old has thrown for an eye-popping 1,544 yards, 10 touchdowns and just one interception over his past four games. He is playing at an elite level, which is something he seemed to remind Washington’s GM of with this awkward exchange a couple weeks back.

A player getting the franchise tag two years in a row is rare, and there is still a long way to go in negotiations. If Cousins continues to play the way he has lately, Washington may decide to pay him accordingly.