For the third consecutive offseason, the Washington Redskins need to decide how they want to handle the future of their starting quarterback. One way or another, head coach Jay Gruden is hoping for a long-term solution this time around.
Kirk Cousins has played under the franchise tag in each of the past two seasons. The Redskins could franchise tag him for one more year, but that would cost a whopping $34.5 million. It would also irritate Gruden.
“I think something has to be done,” the coach said last week, via Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post. “I personally don’t want to go through another one-year deal, and just [keep going] one year, one year. I think you want to have a quarterback in here that’s going to be here. And hopefully that is Kirk, and if not, we have to move on and do what we have to do as an organization.”
In other words, Gruden is tired of dealing with the same uncertainties at the most important position on the field.
“For the most part, the great quarterbacks are in the same system year in and year out, and are developing in that system,” he added. “[Teams are] not holding our breath every March and April, waiting for the guy. But if that’s the case, that’s the case. But we like Kirk and his development. He’s played well at times, without a doubt, proven that he’s a good starting NFL quarterback.”
Cousins has said in the past that he has no problem taking things year to year with Washington, which makes sense when you see how much money he has pocketed while playing under the franchise tag. But even he indicated he is hoping for a different outcome this winter.
“I think eventually it’s getting settled,” Cousins said. “I think you can only just kind of go year-to-year for so long. But I think that’s why it’s first things first. First let’s get away from the season a little bit. Then let’s gather some information as to what the rest of the league is looking like, who’s being hired, who’s being fired. And you just keep kind of stacking up days on each other, gathering information that then leads to the next decision and the next decision.”
Cousins has put up very consistent numbers over the past three years, eclipsing the 4,000-yard passing mark in each season and throwing 25 or more touchdown passes per year. He hinted during the season that he is frustrated with the lack of long-term commitment from the team, and obviously Gruden shares some of that frustration. Things should be different this offseason, as paying Cousins $34.5 million for one season in 2018 wouldn’t be the wisest business decision.
