Redskins backup quarterback Colt McCoy agreed to a one-year extension worth up to $7 million on Thursday, according to the NFL Network.
McCoy’s original deal was set to expire in 2019.
The new contract reportedly carries a void and buyback provision. In McCoy’s current contract, he holds a similar clause. According to Over the Cap, McCoy could have voided the 2018 season if he had played 65 percent of the Redskins’ snaps. That didn’t happen.
McCoy, 31, has been with the Redskins since 2014. He appeared in one regular season game last year, taking snaps in a blowout loss to Dallas. In 2014, he started four games, throwing for 1,057 yards for four touchdowns and three interceptions.
Alex Smith will be the Redskins’ starter at quarterback.
Coach Jay Gruden has always expressed confidence in McCoy if the team needed him to play for whatever reason. With Kirk Cousins’ former contract situation, some wondered if the team would feel comfortable sticking with McCoy.
“He’s just been in the system now for a while and you can just see him do some things,” Gruden said in January. “We’re not appointing anybody a starting quarterback right now. I’m not saying Colt is the heir apparent and he’s going to start tomorrow. I just know that Colt’s been in the building and I have total faith that if he was given an opportunity, he would be ready to produce. That’s just how I feel about Colt.”
The Philadelphia Eagles also showed it was possible to win a Super Bowl with a backup quarterback — as Nick Foles replaced an injured Carson Wentz in December and went on to win Super Bowl LII MVP.
“The importance of the quarterback room —in general as far as depth —certainly the back-up — I don’t think can be understated,” Smith said Thursday. “You’re one play away from that. That’s the reality of this league.”
McCoy carries a $3.6 million cap hit for 2018.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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