Redskins place exclusive franchise tag on Kirk Cousins

He told 106.7 The Fan that he’s hopeful a long-term deal can be struck, indicating he’d prefer that stability to another year under the franchise tag. That would have shown commitment by the team.

However, the Redskins can still trade Cousins. That would have shown respect from the team.

The transition tag idea for 2018 at around $28 million has been floated. So, he gambled on himself, believed he’d have a big season and played for $19.95 million. While Washington failed to make the playoffs, losing four of its final six games, Gruden clearly wanted him back. There is no way the team does that, which means Cousins is essentially on a one-year deal in 2017 and will be a free agent in 2018.

If you’re Cousins, that’s hardly flattering.

More likely than not, Washington is putting these conflicting reports out there to gauge San Francisco’s interest through the media.

After the season, Cousins declined to assess his performance.

Cousins earned $20 million in 2016 under a non-exclusive franchise tag after he and the team were unable to agree to a long-term contract. The second-round tender is worth $2.81 million for Crowell, but he and the team are working on a long-term deal.

So, he’s not going to settle. Let him go? Or try to salvage something by jettisoning him – and getting out from under that crushing salary – and picking up the ability to add a few more pieces via a tag-and-trade scenario. Had the team used the non-exclusive tag, Cousins could have sought an offer from another team, and the Redskins would have received two first-round picks in return if Cousins left.

In the meantime, they could draft a developmental prospect and/or look for a veteran signal caller familiar with Shanahan’s system, like Brian Hoyer or Matt Schaub.

There’s also the matter of past slights still bugging Cousins, including an initial offer last offseason of $12 million per year with low guarantees.

But hindsight is 20/20.

He loved playing for new 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan when he was the Washington Redskins’ offensive coordinator. Shanahan and Cousins have a connection from their days spent together in Washington, so it’s easy to connect the dots. “They decided they are not going to trade him”.