Redskins GM happy to 'overpay' Cousins should he shine in 2016
There has been little noise of late about Kirk Cousins and the Washington Redskins' negotiations for a long-term deal, indicating both parties are content for the quarterback to play in 2016 under the franchise tag for just under $20 million.
The move appears to be motivated by the Redskins' desire to make Cousins prove himself worthy of a large contract, with just one season of starter-level production on his resume.
Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan admitted in an interview with Bleacher Report's Jason Cole recently that he understands the risk he's taking by not paying Cousins now.
The Redskins could potentially watch as the 27-year-old boosts his value by continuing the impressive form he showed late last season, and then be forced to hand over a contract that greatly exceeds the type of money Cousins could of been signed for this offseason.
"Correct, and I'm OK with that (laughs)," McCloughan said when it was suggested he might need to overpay if all goes well in 2016. "Let me overpay him if he's good. If you have a productive guy, it helps everything, and it proves out. You look around this league and see the teams that are in the playoffs every year and look who the quarterbacks are. Look at the ones who win. It proves out."
McCloughan emphasized that his club won't hesitate to pay Cousins top dollar if he replicates his 2015 success next season, but highlighted his team's expectations of the young pivot by saying he intends to build a roster that wouldn't require Cousins to necessarily play like an elite passer.
"I told Kirk when he came in - and his wife must have hugged me for 10 minutes because he just went from making $600,000 to $19.9 million - I told him: 'You take care of me and this organization, we're going to take care of you. I promise. And we're going to build this roster to where you can be average and still be good. I promise you,'" McCloughan said.
It's rare for players to play under the franchise tag for an entire season, but with the mammoth contracts required to lock up young quarterbacks - with an $18-million to $20-million yearly salary and upwards of $50 million in guarantees becoming the going rate - it appears the Redskins are, at present, content to risk the one-year deal in order to confirm they have a franchise quarterback in Cousins.