Redskins president certain team will reach long-term deal with Cousins

Perhaps questions about Kirk Cousins' future in Washington can be put to rest sooner rather than later.

Asked about his quarterback's contract situation in an appearance on ESPN 980 on Friday, Redskins president Bruce Allen went a step beyond throwing his support behind Cousins.

The way he sees it, the path to a long-term deal really isn't all that complex.

"You start out with optimism, of course," Allen said, according to Dan Steinberg of The Washington Post. "And I don't think it's as complicated as everyone wants to make it. And we'll get together with his agent, and I'm sure we'll come to an agreement."

The two sides working out a new contract in advance of free agency would allow the Redskins to avoid using the franchise tag on Cousins for a second consecutive offseason.

And even if the one-year tender is used as a last resort, negotiations for a long-term solution are permitted to continue well into the summer. Either way, barring the use of the franchise tag and a subsequent trade offer the Redskins simply can't refuse, Cousins likely isn't going anywhere.

"(Kirk's) going to be our quarterback," Allen said. "We've said it. We obviously like what we've done. We think we're going to get better, that's the key. And as we talked with (Kirk) earlier today, Super Bowls are real fun when you bring all your roommates with you. That's when it's special, and that's our goal."

What remains to be seen, regardless of the optimism for a deal, is whether management sees his recent progress as reason to make him one of the league's highest-paid signal-callers.

Cousins put together the most productive season of his young career while playing under the franchise tag in 2016, completing 67 percent of his passes for 4,917 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.