Kirk Cousins signs franchise tender, can officially be traded
Kirk Cousins is officially eligible to be traded to another NFL team if Washington decides to grant the quarterback his wish.
Cousins signed his franchise tender on Friday morning, which means he will be playing for Washington on a one-year, $23.94 million deal if he sticks around.
Washington QB Kirk Cousins signed his franchise tender this morning. He is now tradeable.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2017
Though Washington has shown NO inclination of trading Kirk Cousins to date. But now that Cousins has signed, Washington can review options.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2017
Multiple reports have claimed Cousins wants out of Washington, and there had been speculation that the 28-year-old could hold out and refuse to sign his franchise tender in order to get what he wants. That apparently is not going to happen.
Cousins wants to play for the San Francisco 49ers, and he has reportedly told Washington that is going to happen in 2018 at the latest.
Spoke to source close to #Redskins QB Kirk Cousins last night. Per Cousins: "I'm going to be a 49er" in 2017 OR 2018.
We shall see…#49ers— Eric Galko (@OptimumScouting) March 10, 2017
One report says Cousins went to Washington owner Daniel Snyder and asked to be traded, but Snyder told him not to get his hopes up. That could have something to do with bad blood between Snyder and new 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Washington is a mess, so you can’t blame Cousins for not wanting to stick around. At the very least, he will be hitting the open market next offseason after having made around $44 million between 2016 and 2017. Life could be worse.