Redskins rumors: Kirk Cousins offered 5-year extension

Could the Redskins and Kirk Cousins be any closer to agreement to keep their starting signal-caller long term? It seems Washington wants to get a deal done.

Cousins has had two stellar statistical seasons since taking the reigns in 2015, but has been the subject of rumors galore since the end of last year. Would he become a free agent? Would he be franchise-tagged? Or even traded? Ultimately, the team slapped the franchise tag on him, but it’s now been revealed they have offered him a long-term deal.

Albert Breer, Senior Reporter for the MMQB, has confirmed in an interview with Redskins team president Bruce Allen that the team offered their quarterback “a five-year extension over the $23.94 million franchise tag that would lock up Cousins through 2022.” It’s not a huge surprise, but it also doesn’t necessarily mean it’s any closer to being agreed upon. Per Breer:

"“I also know that the sides aren’t close to getting something done now. And while Allen insisted to me that he didn’t see the high one-year price making the long-term talks any trickier, the road to getting a deal done certainly won’t be easy.”"

Realistically, while we know the Redskins “officially” want him back, we can’t be sure if their offer is anywhere near the expectations of the Cousins camp. The former Michigan State Spartan has been top ten in passing yards in the past two seasons, with passer ratings of 101.6 in 2015 and 97.2 last year, but failed to record a playoff win for his team in either.

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Franchise quarterbacks are hard to come by in this league, and if Washington feels they have one in Cousins, they’ll need to pay up. This might end up being a long, drawn-out process that isn’t resolved until the summer, but it looks like Cousins won’t be leaving Washington in the foreseeable future.