Cousins willing to play under franchise tag again in 2017

Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins isn't afraid of getting slapped with the franchise tag for a second straight year.

Cousins said in an interview on ESPN on Thursday that he is willing to play under the tag if he has to.

"We will cross that bridge when we come to it, but I would probably do what I did last year," Cousins said after Pro Bowl practice. "I will sign it and play with it. I'm not afraid."

Cousins would surely prefer a long-term deal - and has likely earned one, throwing for a career-high 4,917 yards and 25 touchdowns with a passer rating of 97.2 in 2016.

Tagging players in consecutive seasons is exceptionally rare in the NFL. Doing so with Cousins would cost the Redskins almost $24 million on a guaranteed one-year deal.

It's most likely that the two sides work out a long-term deal, with the franchise tag charge serving as a starting point in negotiations.

But if the two sides can't reach such a pact, the Redskins will be happy to know that Cousins wouldn't hold out into the season if tagged again.