The Washington Redskins will be tagging quarterback Kirk Cousins according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter
The most important decision that the Washington Redskins will make this offseason revolves around quarterback Kirk Cousins. Cousins emerged last season as the Redskins starting quarterback and had an excellent season for them. Washington had hoped to work out a long-term deal with him, but instead, they will be using one of their tags on him.
Redskins are tagging QB Kirk Cousins, per league source. Only decision left is whether team uses franchise or transition tag on him.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 26, 2016
It remains to be seen if the Redskins will use a franchise tag or a transition tag on Cousins. Either one of the two options would likely be wiser than signing Cousins long-term. Tagging him allows the Redskins to further evaluate Cousins and see if he’s worth giving a long-term contract.
Should the Redskins use the franchise tag on him, that will cost them $19,748,000 for one season. If Washington uses the transition tag on Kirk Cousins, that will cost them $17.5 million for one season.
Cousins threw for 4,166 passing yards in 2015 with 29 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He completed 69.8 percent of his passes. A fourth round pick of the Redskins in the 2012 NFL Draft, Cousins had a 101.6 passer rating with a 9-7 record in 2015. He ranked 10th in the league in passing yards and was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week twice (Week 7 and Week 10).