Report: Redskins will consider tagging Kirk Cousins again
Kirk Cousins is in line to hit free agency in March, but the Washington Redskins are set to throw a wrench into that.
With an agreement to acquire Alex Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs this past week, the Washington Redskins essentially severed ties with Kirk Cousins. Cousins is set to finally hit the open market, rather than be franchised tagged a third time, but not so fast. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Redskins will consider using the franchise tag on Cousins.
The Redskins, once the deal for Smith can be made official, will surrender cornerback Kendall Fuller and a 2018 third-round pick to the Chiefs. The “tag and trade scenario” Washington is considering with Cousins would theoretically allow them to get some return, and offset what they will give up for Smith.
Under the franchise tag this year, Cousins would make close to $34.5 million. He has said he’s open to going year-to-year, but that was before the reported move the Redskins will make to acquire Smith.
For some teams, the idea of not having to commit to Cousins long-term could be appealing. The Denver Broncos stand out as one that could draft a quarterback with a high pick in April, but still consider a significant one-year commitment to Cousins in win-now mode while their defense is still one of the best in the league.
But Cousins has no good reason to cooperate with the Redskins, and immediately sign the franchise tender to facilitate a trade. Turning down a one-year deal worth over $34 million in fully guaranteed money would be difficult, but a multi-year deal with another team would surely have more guaranteed money than that and also bring some stability. To say nothing of fully escaping the dysfunction, bad business model and an organization in Washington that does not value him.
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The Redskins seem set on making it hard for Cousins, after kicking the can down the road with franchise tags in 2016 and 2017. Now they’ve made a move to replace him, however unofficially at this point, and won’t just let him hit the open market. Schefter’s report is hardly definitive, but that it’s even out there that Cousins could be franchise tagged by the Redskins again means there may be something to it.