The Washington Redskins are likely to use the franchise tag on Kirk Cousins if they cannot work out a long-term deal, but the quarterback will have no shortage of suitors if he does end up hitting free agency.
With Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay — two former Redskins offensive coordinators who both worked with Cousins — having landed head coaching jobs this offseason, the market for Cousins is sizzling. We already heard a report claiming the San Francisco 49ers will make a run at Cousins if he becomes a free agent. And if the Redskins do ultimately use the franchise tag on Cousins, the Los Angeles Rams could have their eye on him next offseason.
According to Albert Breer of The MMQB, the Rams could “kick the tires on Cousins” in 2018 if Jared Goff looks like a bust next season.
But if things didn’t wind up working out with Jared Goff in 2017, it’s not insane to think the Rams might kick the tires on Cousins in 2018. So now, Cousins has Shanahan sitting out there to motivate the Redskins to tag him, and McVay behind Door 2 as a reason for them to do a long-term deal now based off that tag, rather than wait until 2018, when it’d cost $28.7 million to transition tag him and $35.91 million to franchise him.
Not a bad spot to be in, if you’re Cousins. His two-year take, if he’s tagged again, would be almost $44 million. And based off the two-tag principle many agents use with tagged players, it’s not crazy to think he’ll ask for close to $60 million in the first two years of a long-term deal.
Cousins, 28, is in a tremendous position of strength. He was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL for a stretch last season, and there are plenty of teams who would love to have him. Unless there is truth to this surprising report, our guess is he will sign a long-term deal with Washington this offseason.
