Redskins GM: Cousins contract talks have been 'positive'

The Washington Redskins have still yet to reach a long-term deal with Kirk Cousins, but at least one of the two sides appears relatively pleased with the current state of negotiations.

Speaking at his pre-draft press conference Monday, general manager Scot McCloughan indicated that contract talks have been moving in the right direction.

"We're still in discussions and they're positive," McCloughan said, according to Tarik El-Bashir of CSN Mid-Atlantic. "You know, it takes both sides to get to an agreement. But … it's a positive thing and there's a positive feeling here about him."

McCloughan went on to express confidence that a new deal would eventually take shape, meanwhile referencing the magnitude of such a contract as the reason for the lengthy process.

"The whole thing, I mean, it's a big contract," McCloughan said. "It's negotiation. It's back and forth. But we're in contact (and) we would love to get something done prior to (the deadline)."

Having received the franchise tag heading into March, Cousins is slated to play the upcoming year at a $19.95-million salary.

Further building upon his breakout 2015 campaign would go a long way to forcing Washington's hand in keeping him off the free-agent market next offseason.