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Kirk Cousins: 5 best fits in NFL free agency

By John Buhler

Sep 25, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws the ball prior to the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws the ball prior to the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 12, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) attempts a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) attempts a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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San Francisco 49ers

NFC, West

Like with the Bears, the San Francisco 49ers are in position to draft a franchise quarterback in the top-five of the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. San Francisco was terrible in 2016 and has the No. 2 overall pick. They also will be getting their fourth head coach in four seasons in former Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.

Shanahan helped take the Falcons to Super Bowl LI with one of the most successful offenses in NFL history. While he could draft his next franchise quarterback, he could be reunited with Cousins in Santa Clara.

Shanahan was Cousins’ offensive coordinator when he first came into the league back in 2012. The Shanahans sought out Cousins in the fourth round out of Michigan State. Over time, he proved to be the more reliable quarterback over No. 2 overall pick Robert Griffin, III in 2012 out of Baylor.

San Francisco will have the second-most salary cap space heading into 2017 NFL free agency. The 49ers will have $83,679,651 to work with this spring to reshape their putrid football roster. San Francisco is one of the few teams that can break the bank on a deal for Cousins and wouldn’t run out of capital in the process.

Cousins would flourish in the Shanahan West Coast offense. The only two things holding Cousins back from thinking about signing with San Francisco are massive organizational instability and a roster nearly bereft of talent. Owner Jed York has driven this franchise into the ground. Could Shanahan and Cousins rise from the ashes in this Bay Area football fiasco known as the 49ers?

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