Report: Cousins to play out season on franchise tag
The Washington Redskins have until Monday to hammer out a long-term deal with quarterback Kirk Cousins, but all indications are that he will be allowed to play out the 2017 season on the franchise tag, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.
The franchise tag was issued to Cousins for the second straight season, netting him a 20 percent raise on his 2016 salary, which equates to a $23.9 base salary in 2017.
Rapoport reports both sides are "OK" with going through with the one-year partnership. The two sides have been unable to negotiate a long-term deal for the past two seasons.
Cousins is scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency in 2018, though the Redskins could hand him their tag again for a third year. However, that would require a 44 percent bump in pay and net Cousins $34.5 million. The team could also use a transition tag, which comes with a 20 percent raise, but it would allow Cousins the ability to negotiate a multi-year contract with other teams.
The Redskins made Cousins their second quarterback selected in the 2012 draft after they traded up to grab Robert Griffin III in the first round. After three seasons with Griffin under center, Washington allowed Cousins to take the wheel.
In his first year as a starter, he set a franchise record for the most passing yards in a single season. He then topped that mark in 2016 by nearly reaching the 5,000-yard mark.
Cousins led the Redskins to a division title in 2015 and to the brink of the playoffs last season.