While Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins’ future in Washington is uncertain beyond 2017, team president Bruce Allen would like to keep him in the fold for the long haul.
Asked if the Redskins view Cousins as someone capable of serving as the face of the franchise for the next half-decade or so, Allen told Albert Breer of TheMMQB: “Well, since we’ve offered him a contract around that length, I’d say yes we do. He has gotten better the last three years, and we see him getting better in the future, and that’s why we do want to sign him long-term. We like his role as our quarterback and our leader, we just have to work that out.”
The Redskins have floated a five-year extension for Cousins, reports Breer, who adds that the new deal would include the soon-to-be 29-year-old’s franchise-tagged 2017, in which he’ll make $23.94MM. The pact would then begin in 2018 and keep Cousins under Redskins control through the 2022 campaign. However, “the sides aren’t close to getting something done now,” writes Breer. That’s not surprising, as the proposal includes “roughly” $20MM per annum and a “low guarantee,” reports Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post (Twitter link via the Post’s Mike Jones). A “serious” offer would need to feature at least $40MM fully guaranteed at signing, posits Joel Corry of CBS Sports (Twitter link).
If Washington doesn’t sign Cousins by July 15, he’ll play a second straight season under the tag. Designating him as their franchise player again next year would cost the Redskins an unpalatable $34MM-plus, which undoubtedly increases the urgency to reach a long-term deal in the next three and a half months. Cousins has made his case for a sizable committment since he took over as the Redskins’ starter in 2015. He started all of the Redskins’ games over the past two seasons and helped the team to a 17-14-1 record, including an NFC East title in 2015. Along the way, Cousins combined for over 9,000 yards, 54 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.
The team is trying to make cousins look like the bad guy in the eyes of fans because they know he’s gone next year and they won’t be able to replace him. It’s a pretty standard move, but nobody should be fooled. The fact they want to include a pay cut for this year shows they aren’t serious. Cousins will break the bank as a free agent in a QB needy league, and the redskins incompetence becomes harder to deny. Cousins will most likely be a very rich 49er next season.
Make him look bad? We already know he’s not a top echelon QB. That’s why there is a ceiling to the offer. The idiot 49ers can pay him $25MM / yr for 5 years. I hope the Redskins don’t do it. The 2018 draft will be loaded with QB’s.
The problem is that College FB has very few pro style QB’s which make even the best a big risk.
Pretty standard move huh? Surprised someone who doesn’t know what a bell cow is could be so sure of it
Kirk is a good quarterback but he hasn’t proven that he can win these tough divisional games. I’m sorry if he thought that he was a high calibur quarterback that could fit into any system. He would have took the opportunity to turn down the tag and see what and who are offering the most money. He is a system quarterback for right now. He looks to have the talent to become a very good quarterback if he can show that he can win the tough grinding three point nail bitter decision games that we seem to not when because of poor execution. If the 49ers want him for more money than what Washington is offering then let him go and build a quarterback up from college to the pros. In my eyes seventeen and fourteen and one tie is not that great. #HTTR#
Players don’t have the opportunity to turn down a franchise tag
They can if they don’t want to play
Dudes already 29. Trade him for some picks. 5 year deal for 29 year old QB reeks of regret.
We’ve waited for over 20 years for a QB like him. Letting him go reeks of regret
Hate to burst your bubbles, but Cousins isnt Brady.
Also, age 33 and 34 is when QBs who come from pass happy offenses tend to decline.
For every Brady, Roethlisberger, Eli and Peyton Manning, Rivers
There are the Donovan McNabbs, Jeff Garcias, Matt Hasselbecks, Steve Young where age 33-34 they hit a wall and were on the decline. So you’d get 3 years good 2 years declined.
If you want to offer him 3 year 60 mill fine. 32 is prime years for QBs. Anything longer youre risking decline.
is this comment a joke…. Tom Brady is 41. Cousins is a qb not a rb.
Agreed
Why is 5 year deal for a 29 year old an issue
Take their money this year then leave. Go where you want to go. You’ll have made a fortune off the Redskins and them playing the franchise game.
It’s business. The team made the playoffs with him and Gruden created an offense that suits him. He threw more picks while with Kyle Shanahan. Gruden helped him reduce those. We’ll see.
Agreed Strauss, he made over 19m last year, and is scheduled for over 24m this year, more than Cousins could ever be worth. Take the money, keep your mouth shut, and be ready to move on next offseason if you don’t get a deal. No way Washington franchises him again if it means a salary of $34m
Look at Brady still killing it at 41. 29 is not that old plus he hasn’t taken a beating like most 29 year olds
But that’s Tom Brady and this is Kirk Cousins. Don’t compare.
I would sincerely leave Washington and go play for Shanahan if I was Cousins. The owner there is a joke which in return makes it a bad organization. The Redskins should just trade him to the 49ers and move on from him since we all know he is going to walk, otherwise he would have signed a long term deal by now.
This may be an early april fools post. There’s nothing on Breer’s site about it
TRADE HIM. MOST QB’S WOULD LOOK GOOD WITH THE RECEIVERS THE REDSKINS HAVE.
had
The facts are:
1. Wash screwed the pooch by not signing Cousins last yr.
2. SF wants Cousins and Cousins wants Shanahan.
3. NE doesn’t want to trade Jimmy G and have no back up for Brady.
The solution:
1. Cousins (agrees to extention) to SF.
2. Garrapolo (agrees to starter salary extention) to Wash.
3 Draft pick or picks plus Hoyer (knows the NE system) to NE.
4. Other draft picks or players could be included to make it work out.