The events of Tuesday night moved Kirk Cousins into relatively foreign territory — for himself and the NFL.
A franchise quarterback in his prime without injury issues is now pointed toward free agency. The 29-year-old passer will be pursued by several teams, including some who missed out on the Alex Smith sweepstakes. It could take a record contract to land the seventh-year signal-caller.
But after banking more than $44MM over the past two seasons through Redskins franchise tags, Cousins said a team’s competitive window will play heavily into his thought process.
“Winning is everything, especially at this stage of my career,” Cousins said, via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. “I’m going into Year 7. Because I’ve been franchise-tagged twice, it’s not about the money so much. It’s about winning. I want to win. This isn’t the NBA. You can’t just get one player and now you’re in the AFC championship game or NFC championship game. There are other pieces that come into play.”
Expanding on his desire to land in a winning situation after starting just one playoff game in his career, Cousins said a team’s coaching staff, GM and offensive system and personnel will be “huge” factors during his process.
“Who am I throwing to? Who’s protecting? What’s the depth chart look like?” Cousins said, via Cimini. “It’s so multifaceted. It’s going to be a really interesting process to gather those facts. I haven’t had the opportunity to gather that research. Until then, I’m going to keep an open mind and see what’s out there.”
While many free agents sign in the frenzied first several hours of the league year opening without taking visits, Cousins hinted he may go through a meet-and-greet process. Peyton Manning was thorough during his 2012 tour, traveling to several teams before deciding on the Broncos, who, interestingly, are almost certainly going to be part of the Cousins derby as well.
“Well, that will be uncharted territory for me,” Cousins said, via Charles Robinson of Yahoo.com, just before learning he will have a chance to test free agency. “I haven’t been there before. So I don’t know what that process looks like at all to this point. That would be my first time going through it.
“But I want to win. I’ll make sure that any fact-gathering that I do, or business that I take, or coaches that I meet – it’ll all be centered on do I feel like this is a place where I can win, or we can win? That’s what it’ll all boil down to.”
Love this guy, such a class act. Skins never handled his contract right and now they have downgraded at qb and have gotten older. The skins don’t have an rb like hunt to enhance smiths best features. Skins just continuing to keep themselves from being a true contender.
I’d love to see him in Jacksonville
I don’t see much of a difference between the two to be honest, aside from Smith being a few years older…Alex Smith will be more affordable than Cousins and that will give them more cap space to address other pieces to get better…this move was a head scratcher to me when I first read it but the more I think about it the more it makes sense for the Skins…I just hope that Mahomes doesn’t flop or else there’s going to be some upset folks in KC
sportsfan101 Did you forget about Chris Thompson?
Chris Thompson isn’t Kareem Hunt. He is a prolific pass catcher, but rushing wise he was avg. Kareem is excellent in both.
Class act
The more I listen to comments by Cousins, the more I realize he won’t be coming to Cleveland.
So who do we settle for?
Maybe make another push for McCarron and try again at drafting an heir to the throne since all signs point to them not being sold on Kizer’s potential to be a franchise QB
I agree that’s the most likely route.
If that happens, who do they pick at 1 and 4? My gut tells me Barkley and either Josh or Minkah.
My gut tells me Minkah and one of the quarterbacks (I’d guess Josh Allen at the moment) if they can’t get a veteran QB, or Minkah and Barkley if they can get a veteran QB
That’s where it gets difficult for the Browns organization, historically the can’t seem to get their draft board in order…I guess we’ll have to see what the new regime pulls off on draft day
At least Dorsey said something we haven’t heard in years—-Best Player Available.
I’d take him in a heartbeat in Miami but they will prob draft and play Tannehill one more year
Hey Jimmy, he’s not coming to the Browns that’s for sure. Thanks
Minnesota? Thought I heard something about that earlier in the season.
Gotta be Jacksonville or Denver.
Thoughts exactly. But the NFC is more wide-open, clearer path to Super Bowl imo. Redskins just didn’t manage the team well, letting weapons go w no real replacements. Not addressing O line holes.
He’s going to Denver. Elway has had his chances on drafting a quarterback and has failed. Only because Paxton Lynch is young and cheap will Denver keep him around. The other 2 are going to most likely be released. Elway needs to make a splash to keep his fan base happy.
Cousins in Denver is actually a pretty decent idea. It would be place where he could win and would have a way better supporting cast