The cases for and against giving Kirk Cousins an extension

The deadline for teams to sign franchise-tagged players to long-term deals is July 17. With that in mind, here are the cases for and against the W ashington Redskins handing quarterback Kirk Cousins a multi-year deal:

For

Stats

What more can Cousins do to prove his worth as the Redskins' quarterback? Who holds the franchise record for most passing yards in a single season? Kirk Cousins, 2016. Who's the runner-up? Kirk Cousins, 2015.

Since being handed the team's starting job, all he's done is set new team records, throwing for 4,166 yards in 2015 and coming just shy of 5,000 yards (4,917 to be exact) in 2016. His touchdown-to-interception ratio has been incredible too. Last season, he threw the ball 606 times and was picked off 12 times. The season prior, he had 543 pass attempts and 11 picks.

Not only has Cousins been productive, he's efficient. For a quarterback in their first two years as a starter, those numbers are unprecedented.

Wins

Cousins led Washington to winning seasons in his two years at the helm. Since 2009, the Redskins' win-loss record had been terrible (4-12, 6-10, 5-11, 10-6, 3-13, 4-12). He spearheaded an immediate turnaround with a 9-7 record and a trip to the playoffs in 2015, then a 8-7-1 campaign last year.

Based on statistics and results alone, there should be no debate about whether Cousins should remain the Redskins' starting quarterback. Washington finished as the worst team in the NFC East six of the seven years before Cousins took over. He produced a division title his first year and had the club competing for a playoff spot in the final week of the 2016 season.

Position

The Redskins happened upon a Pro Bowl quarterback, an asset tens of NFL teams are clamoring to find or develop. Those on the cusp of the 5,000-yard mark are rarer still. Only seven quarterbacks in league history have thrown for more yards in one season than Cousins did in 2016.

At unquestionably the most important position on the field, the Redskins have a certified starter, and need only to pay him to retain him.

Against

Price tag

However, it won't be cheap to keep Cousins in burgundy and gold. The Redskins already made Cousins the highest-paid quarterback in 2017 by signing him to the franchise tag for the second consecutive season. He's set to make $23.9 million for the upcoming campaign. In order to lock him up long term, Washington would likely have to hand him the richest salary in league history.

Derek Carr of the Raiders just signed a five-year, $125-million extension. That's the going rate for a top-flight quarterback, and those that net deals after Carr will reset the market. Despite his production, the two successful seasons, and his premium position, is Cousins worth more than $125 million?

Former general manager Scot McCloughan determined Cousins was worth $44 million for the past two seasons. The player could fare even better if he's allowed to hit free agency, where he'll command plenty of attention. It's a pricey decision.

Performance in must-win games

While Cousins deserves praise for his play over the past two years, he also deserves the criticism he's garnered for his performance in must-win games.

Though he led the 'Skins to the playoffs in 2015, they lost 35-18 in their home wild-card game to the Packers. Then, with a trip to the postseason hanging in the balance in the final week of the 2016 regular season, Cousins was 22-for-35 with 287 yards, one touchdown, and two picks in a 19-10 loss to the Giants.

The Redskins only needed to beat a team that had already cemented its playoff spot in order to sneak in as a wild card, but fell flat on their faces. Cousins was particularly poor. Trailing by three with less than two minutes to go, Cousins lofted a pass into the middle of the field for his second interception of the game.

That's not the type of play in pressure situations that the Redskins want to pay for.

Record

The team has registered two seasons over .500 with Cousins at the controls, but his personal win-loss record is an uninspiring 19-21-1. While seven of those losses came as a spot starter in 2013 and '14, he's also recorded seven losses in each of the last two years.

His individual numbers have been good, but Cousins' results have been merely average, and though he hasn't been a starter for long, he turns 29 this season. He may already be what he's expected to be as a pro.

Conclusion

New Redskins vice president of player personnel Doug Williams has already expressed he wants to sign Cousins long term "in the worst way." However, the QB has witnessed the franchise's ineptitude for five seasons now, and will likely balk at an extended stay knowing that greener pastures await.