The Redskins are reportedly considering using the franchise tag on Kirk Cousins even though they have already acquired his replacement in Alex Smith. If that happens, Albert Breer of The MMQB‘s “understanding” is that Cousins’ camp would quickly file a grievance against the team. 
Players often bemoan the franchise tag, but there is no precedent for getting it turned over. In the case of Cousins, the camp would argue that the Redskins are violating the spirit of the rule, since the tag is supposed to be used in order to give teams additional time to get a long-term deal done. After years of lowball offers and the acquisition of Smith, it’s clear that the Redskins have zero intention of giving Cousins a multi-year contract. Instead, the Redskins would only use the non-exclusive tag on Cousins to collect draft compensation from the team that signs him.
The Redskins would be taking a major gamble by tagging Cousins. Although several QB-needy teams are planning to line up for Cousins in March, it’s possible that none of them will be willing to cough up two first-round picks for him. This year’s QB free agent crop may include decent consolation prizes like Case Keenum and A.J. McCarron. Meanwhile, draft prospects Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen may have franchise QB potential. Instead of sacrificing two first-round picks for Cousins, a team picking outside of the top two could use that draft capital to move up for those younger options. They’d also be much cheaper. This year’s No. 1 overall pick is slotted to earn $32.8MM on a four-year deal with a $21.9MM signing bonus. A franchise-tagged Cousins would cost $34.5MM for the upcoming season and command at least $30MM/year on a long-term contract.
And, even if Cousins is tagged and loses his grievance, he’ll have a great deal of leverage on his side. Cousins could delay signing the tender for weeks or months, forcing Washington to carry the $34.5MM number against its salary cap since he cannot be traded before putting pen to paper. Cousins could also tell a potential trade partner that he is unwilling to sign a long-term deal, which would scare any GM off of giving up two first rounders. If the Redskins tag Cousins and remove it later, they’ll lose the right to gain a 2019 compensatory pick, which they would get if Cousins leaves right away as an unrestricted free agent.
They won’t tag him
They should’ve traded him last year when they had the chance
Why file a grievance when you can hold the team hostage?
Because if there’s a team he wants to play for that is interested in signing him, they could end up moving on to another option while all this would play out
They need to just leave the guy alone. He wants to play and can easily be a starter for other teams.
Yea! Poor guy! Don’t tag him
and ONLY pay him $34 million a year. Don’t know how he’d scrape by on that !
Everything isn’t about money. Washington and their dirtbag owner should have traded Cousins if they didn’t think he was worth committing to. What they’re doing is unethical, and the league needs to step in if he’s franchised again.
I’d rather play and make $17 million than to sit and make $34 million.
I’d rather just take the 34 if you ask me. More than I’ll ever make in a lifetime.
….. but still would be a slimy move to make on Snyder’s part
If they do, which I don’t believe they will, you don’t grieve the tag. You do the opposite. You tell Washington you are only negotiating with them. Call their bluff. If they don’t remove it, you sit on your hands until 7/15 or until they do.
Violates the spirit of the rule? Man lawyers and unions will come up with anything.
they can’t apply the non-exclusive tag. since it’s year 3 of the tag it’s automatically exclusive. he’d have to sign it before a trade could be made and he won’t do the skins any favors.
world’s tiniest violin playing for a guy tagged at 34.5M
He isn’t that good
Now that’s some petty mess right there….they’ll be asking for alimony, his baseball card collection and half of his retirement when it’s all said and done.
Are they giving that stuff instead of draft picks now?
If they do tag him, I hope he signs it and holds them hostage. That would be more than 1/3 of the cap tied up between two players, both QB’s. Dan Snyder is an idiot.
Arizona. Give someone to Fitz in his last year and draft a future QB.
I don’t really see how waiting to sign it would benefit him. Teams with playoff aspirations aren’t gonna sit around and wait with other options available.
And I’d really like to know what those low ball offers were.They paid him franchise tag money the last 2 years.How much under those numbers were the offers,a and how much more was he looking for…I feel bad for the team that pays him 30+.
Best option imo is to sign it and get permission from the Skins to negotiate with other teams. Try to end up with a playoff team.
Everybody knows the Skins are moving on,so if they expect 2 1sts,they’re crazy.But they should be able to recoup the day 2 pick they gave up for Smith.
I think the offer was kinda like the Kaep contract in SF, big number but little actual guaranteed money. Which is kinda crazy based upon what they gave Alex Smith. They’ve held this guy hostage for so long. Tagging him again could greatly restrict his suiters. Just let the man go.
Paid him franchise tag money the last 2 years, just paid Alex Smith. Just looking at those 2 things really make me doubt the Skins really low balled him.
And he was held hostage as a starting QB,getting franchise tag money. I’m an Eagles fan, and I’d love the opportunity to bash the Skins,but I can’t do it here.Franchising him would hurt them cap wise,but while I don’t really believe in him as a franchise QB,enough people do for the Skins to try to get whatever they can for him.
Bruce Allen stated that the offer contained $53 million in guarantees. He received $24 million under the tag last year, and if tagged this year, gets another $34 million this year. Two tags provided more in guarantees than he was offered? Yes, he was lowballed.
Whether his skill/talent is worth the contract offered is another discussion, but anyone who knew the math would have to refuse the deal he was offered.
Dan Gilbert just needs to give up power already. it’s obvious he can’t run a team. Now he’s just screwing over a guy who deserves the damn security for at least a good QB. I hope he doesn’t treat his wife like this. lmao
Dan Gilbert doesn’t own the Skins…
If the union had a problem with this then they would have negotiated restrictions into the labor agreement. That thing gets combed over by hundreds of lawyers and agents, If anyone asked “what if a player just gets tagged over and over again?” the response was “then they get paid a fortune” and that was the end of it.
He isn’t that good