Ever since the Washington Redskins’ season ended, general manager Scot McCloughan and coach Jay Gruden remained adamant that Kirk Cousins would be the starting quarterback in 2016.
The question quickly became a matter of how, not if, the Redskins would retain Cousins, who was set to become a free agent on March 9 following his breakout season.
“I want Kirk here and Kirk wants to be here,” McCloughan said last week at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. “I think there’s a way we can get to that point.”
The Redskins tentatively got to that point on Tuesday by electing to use the non-exclusive franchise tag on Cousins. With the 2016 salary cap set at a record $155.27 million, the value of the franchise tag for a quarterback is set at $19.95 million.
Under the non-exclusive franchise tag designation, Cousins can negotiate with other teams, but the Redskins have the ability to match any other offers. If they choose not to, they receive two first-round draft picks from the team signing Cousins as compensation.
Cousins and the Redskins will have until July 15 to work out a long-term extension. If not, Cousins will have to sign the one-year contract offer, though the Redskins can withdraw the designation at any time and make Cousins a free agent once again.
Last season, Cousins made $660,000 as he played out the final season his rookie contract. In his first season as the Redskins’ starter, he led the team to the playoffs and threw for a franchise-record 4,166 yards, along with 29 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
At the NFL combine, McCloughan said the hope was that the Redskins could reach a long-term agreement with Cousins prior to Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline, but they were unable to do so.
“Me, personally, I like to take care of our own, get them locked in to an extension and not have to worry about the franchise tag,” McCloughan said.
The last time the Redskins turned to the non-exclusive franchise tag on a player was in 2014, when they used it to retain outside linebacker Brian Orakpo, though they were unable to negotiate a long-term deal. Orakpo signed his one-year tender and played seven games before tearing a pectoral muscle, ending his season. The following March, he signed a four-year, $31 million contract with the Tennessee Titans.
The Redskins also had the choice of retaining Cousins with the transition tag, which, at $17.7 million, is slightly cheaper than the non-exclusive franchise tag option but far more of a risk. Under the transition tag, Cousins would have been able to negotiate with other teams, but the Redskins would have owned the first right of refusal. The major difference is that there is no compensation involved, which would allow a a team with deep pockets to swipe Cousins from the Redskins.
Though the transition tag was an option, it was unlikely the Redskins were ever going to use it considering how committed they are to Cousins.
Regardless, the Redskins were in line to have to pay top dollar for a starting quarterback for this season. A year ago, the Redskins elected to pick up Robert Griffin III’s fifth-year option for $16.2 million. In June, team president Bruce Allen called the move a “no-brainer,” though it quickly became anything but that.
Four days before the start of the season, Cousins was named the starter. Despite his early struggles, Cousins ultimately emerged as the team’s best option at quarterback and thrived over the final 10 games of the season. With each increasing week Griffin remained inactive, it became less likely he’d be in line for the $16.2 million in 2016.
On the other hand, as Cousins continued to drive the Redskins toward the NFC East title and a playoff appearance, it became more likely he was in line for a big payday. Using the franchise tag on Cousins puts the Redskins approximately $6 million over the salary cap for 2016, but it is expected that the team will cut Griffin before the start of the new league year on March 9.
• Anthony Gulizia can be reached at agulizia@washingtontimes.com.
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