Kirk Cousins rumors: Jay Gruden wants long-term fix
The Washington Redskins have been going year-to-year with Kirk Cousins, and head coach Jay Gruden has grown tired of it.
The Washington Redskins have franchise tagged quarterback Kirk Cousins in each of the last two offseasons, as they’ve been unwilling to commit to him with a market value long-term deal. Cousins is not an elite quarterback, but he has been reliable and productive with over 4,000 passing yards and at least 25 touchdown passes in each of his three seasons as the starter.
The Redskins will have to make a decision on Cousins once again this offseason. The franchise tag is still an option, instead of a long-term contract, but that would be worth over $34 million this year and that’s a prohibitive cost. From Cousins’ end, the starting point on a multi-year deal with Washington could be around that $34 million mark per year.
If he’s available, Cousins will not lack for suitors on the free agent market. Redskins’ head coach Jay Gruden had mixed praise for his quarterback immediately after the season, but he told Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post he wants the organization to make a long-term decision on Cousins.
"I think something has to be done,” Gruden said bluntly. “I personally don’t want to go through another one-year deal, and just [keep going] one year, one year. I think you want to have a quarterback in here that’s going to be here. And hopefully that is Kirk, and if not, we have to move on and do what we have to do as an organization."
"For the most part, the great quarterbacks are in the same system year in and year out, and are developing in that system. [Teams are] not holding our breath every March and April, waiting for the guy. But if that’s the case, that’s the case. But we like Kirk and his development. He’s played well at times, without a doubt, proven that he’s a good starting NFL quarterback."
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Gruden still did not firmly vouch for Cousins, it’s just that he wants a long-term solution one way or the other. The Redskins could find their quarterback of the future (and the present?) with the No. 13 pick in April’s draft, with Colt McCoy as a stopgap starter/veteran backup for next season. Or a dip into the free agent or trade market for a quarterback is possible, apart from keeping Cousins in some fashion.