Kirk Cousins is locked up on the franchise tag, equating to a one-year deal at nearly $20 million with the Washington Redskins.
According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio from MMQB, while the Redskins offered Cousins $16 million per year with $24 million guaranteed as a long-term deal (less than what Sam Bradford and Brock Osweiler took home in long-term contracts), the team reportedly believes it will find a talent more suitable to take over the squad on a smaller deal.
"The team believes that, by 2017 or 2018, it will have found a quarterback on a slotted, low-money rookie four-year deal who can do what Cousins does, or close to it. That could be 2016 rookie sixth-rounder Nate Sudfeld, or it could be someone else. Regardless, Washington believes that someone younger, cheaper, and just as good if not better can be found, if Cousins still insists after 2016 or 2017 on breaking the bank."
According to Florio, Cousins wanted $44 million guaranteed. Cousins will get a near-$24 million deal next season if he is franchise tagged again.
Washington has had great luck in recent years with quarterbacks, getting the best Robert Griffin III had to offer before having Cousins waiting in the wings, ready to take over last season as the full-time quarterback.
Can lightning strike twice in Washington? It appears general manager Scot McCloughan appears ready to find out.
