The 49ers could soon have a well-regarded offensive mind at the helm if Kyle Shanahan accepts their forthcoming head coaching offer. As the Falcons’ offensive coordinator, Shanahan has worked with a high-end quarterback in Matt Ryan over the past two years. In San Francisco, regardless of whether Colin Kaepernick opts out of his contract, Shanahan arguably wouldn’t inherit a starting-caliber signal-caller – let alone one in Ryan’s stratosphere.
Given the 49ers’ lack of appealing options under center, the Shanahan-led team could attempt to acquire Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins this offseason, writes Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. No player in the NFL has more leverage than Cousins, posits Schefter, as the pending free agent will either end up as the Redskins’ franchise player again on a $23.94MM salary in 2017 or sign a long-term deal with someone – be it Washington or another club.
As PFR’s Dallas Robinson detailed Thursday, striking a multiyear pact with Cousins before next season would be the optimal outcome for the Redskins. There’s no indication the two are moving toward an accord, though, and Cousins is reportedly looking to become the league’s third-highest-paid QB on an annual basis.
In the unlikely event the Redskins allow Cousins to hit free agency this winter, the Niners “would pursue him as hard as they’ve pursued Shanahan,” according to Schefter. But even if Washington tags Cousins, that still might not deter the 49ers from chasing him, per Schefter, who suggests they could put together a package centering on their first-round pick – No. 2 overall – to acquire the soon-to-be 29-year-old. That would perhaps be enough for the Redskins to part with Cousins, as it would cost them an unappetizing $34.48MM to tag him again next year.
While the Redskins have plenty of cap space this offseason, no NFC team has more than San Francisco. The 49ers’ $81MM-plus in spending space for 2017 will only increase with Kaepernick’s likely departure, and the franchise is also set to have plenty of cap room over the next few years. That would seem to make a Cousins pursuit realistic from at least a financial perspective, then.
From a football standpoint, Cousins would be the 49ers’ best QB in years if they were to pick him up. The five-year veteran has posted strong performances in each of his two campaigns as a starter. While the 8-7-1 Redskins weren’t able to replicate their playoff-bound 2015 showing this season, Cousins nonetheless stood out with a 67 percent completion rate, 4,917 yards (only Drew Brees and Ryan had more) and 25 touchdowns against 12 interceptions.
As long as he’s not franchised, they should. But he’s not worth the draft choices they’d otherwise have to sacrifice as there are just too many holes to fill on the roster and, lacking that support over time, he’d likely not thrive.
Get him even if takes the draft pick. Sign Garçon which will give you Garcon and Smith to throw and in my eyes that’s similar to what he had in Washington with Jackson and Garcon. If they can also fix the O Line, the offense would be pretty damn good with Cousins, Garcon, Smith and Hayde. The defense which struggled badly would need some work also. They have the money to spend and there are some good defensive free agents out there also. They can then this around if they make the right moves. Might not be in one year but I don’t see how in two seasons they can’t make this a winning team again with the right moves. They need to hire one of us fans as GM lol. In all seriousness. I really do think they can turn this around faster than some think but I have doubt they will at this point just because they’ve proven me they haven’t been able to do many things right lately. Hoping that changes with the new GM and Shanahan though.
Take him please and give us draft picks
I could see Cleveland trying to lock up Cousins to give them a legit QB and spending their draft picks on lower risk positions.
I would like a 1st and a mid or even a late rd draft pick. Draft either FOURNETTE or Cook. Keep fat rob and Thompson. Waive or trade Jones. Have a mean RB in case rob or Thompson are injured. We need a RB that can control the clock. Yds per carry. Someone that block and run screens. I want what the Vikings have in AP and what the cowboys have in Zeke. It will keep us in games and even give the next QB ( with a 10-15 mill rookie contract) tools. Resign jaxs and garçon. Let some of defensive drag walk. Duke, toler, etc. create more cap. Spend bpa for the edge rush, a vet safety. For depth. And either use our 17th on a QB or BPA in defense. Use the other 8 picks on defense. If Kirk would of showed more. I know I know his stats are nice. But I needed more. He had the offense. A good RB. A subpar defense. Buuuuuuttt. The must wins needed to be won and post season we need to to pass the week 1 bump
Who would be the skins QB though. Cowboys had a good running game and decent defense and went 4-12 the year before with no QB.
We can either bet on Sudfield or maybe get white boy from UNC to play under center. Have a stout RB for him. Because of the cap. We would be able to maintain garçon and Jax. Also add vet dline help with the ability to draft 8 others for instance and future impact
“white boy” has a name, racist
Also if we got 2nd overall. I would trade back to get either RB. Get hope for a steal like a late as well or mid….:::pondering:::
The Niners are the Trump of the NFL. Drain that swamp York, ahahahahaha.
They are presidents of the NFL?
Don’t hate going after Cousins if he hits the free agent market. But not in a trade. Wish more attention was placed on the new DC search. Because the DC that couldn’t find his ass with both hands was equal if not more of a problem with the 9ers last season. Still don’t know why hiring the DC from the worst defense the season before was a good idea. At least one of the 2 numbnuts who did it (Balke/Jughead) is gone now. Hope Jughead doesn’t screw up this hire. Gotta fix the defense or it will all be for not.
I don’t see the defense being to far away of getting better. The 9ers shouldn’t give the Skins our 2nd rounder for him though. We could get Cousins and trade down to number 5 and select Foster. That would fix the linebacker problem. and round 2 edge rusher and then RB and then offensive line and corners.
With free agency I hope there is a player like last year Osemele who went to the Raiders. What ever they do will be 100% better than Balkke ever did in his tenure.
The Redskins won’t let him test the FA they have money to lock him up. They moving things around to see if it worth keeping him by dismantling what is in the offense. A trade will be the only way. The 49ers would have a QB that can play for Kyle and that a huge upside.
Also don’t think Kap is gonna walk. 9ers are on the hook for 1 more year and no team would match his contract last season. I think he stays and collects his cash. Too much to build next season to get back to playoff caliber football. Gabbert should be gone so if Kap stays they should bring Ponder back and get a QB in the draft. Then spend a big chunk of that massive salary cap space on the defense. And maybe 1 top fa wideout. Stayin’ Faithful.
49ers are not on the hook for another year. free and clear cut just as long he isn’t on team april 1st 2017