Report: Redskins will use franchise tag on Cousins absent long-term deal

One way or another, Kirk Cousins will be staying in the nation's capital.

The Washington Redskins are again prepared to use the franchise tag as a means of retaining their quarterback if the two sides are unable to reach a long-term deal prior to free agency, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

Cousins has only continued to emerge while playing under the $19.95-million tag he received last offseason, leading the Redskins to a 6-4-1 record while completing 68.4 percent of his passes for 3,540 yards, 20 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

Tagging Cousins for a second time in as many years would require a 120 percent raise in salary and thus a fully guaranteed salary of $23.94 million for the 2017 campaign.

As daunting as that number may seem, it's possible that he's now played himself into a position where he could command a long-term deal with an annual average approaching that range anyway.

There will be plenty of time for Cousins and Redskins officials to discuss a new deal at the end of the season, and those negotiations would carry on well into the summer even if the franchise tag is used.

Either way, for as long as the 28-year-old remains on this promising development path, it's a given that the organization will do everything it can to keep him off the open market.