Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
Sep 13, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) talks with Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden before the game between the Washington Redskins and the Miami Dolphins at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) talks with Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden before the game between the Washington Redskins and the Miami Dolphins at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
1

Washington Redskins

NFC, East

As it is the case with any franchise-level quarterback, it would be shocking to see the Redskins let Cousins walk out the door. He has provided stability to the quarterback position in the nation’s capital we haven’t seen since the first Joe Gibbs era.

Cousins seems to have a great rapport with head coach Jay Gruden, so why mess that up? Well, Redskins owner Daniel Snyder may not want to pay Cousins top-dollar to stay in town. Franchise tagging him will cost roughly $21,000,000 in 2017. A long-term deal would be slightly more.

Fortunately for Washington, they have a lot of cap space to work with in 2017 NFL free agency. The Redskins will have a projected $61,910,810 to use this spring to bring back a lot of their players. Unfortunately, that includes a bevy of wideouts that will hit the market like Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson.

Re-signing Cousins to a multi-year deal would be a huge boost for the Redskins going forward. It would essentially ensure that Washington will have continuity at quarterback and head coach through the rest of the decade.

Next: NFL Power Rankings: 30 Best QB of All-Time

Re-upping with Cousins could limit what the Redskins’ books look like the next few seasons. However, what is the price of not having a franchise quarterback? Cousins is one and Washington would be foolish to not get him under contract this spring. As long as he is in Washington, the Redskins are a perennial playoff contender in the NFC.

Home/NFL Free Agency