Ever since Kyle Shanahan took over as 49ers head coach and Brian Hoyer was signed as 2017's stopgap under center, free-agent-to-be Kirk Cousins was expected to eventually land in San Francisco. Those rumors were put to rest, however, with the 49ers' trade-deadline acquisition of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Cousins' current team, the Washington Redskins, seems unwilling to make a long-term commitment to the 2012 fourth-round pick, as he's played each of the past two seasons under the franchise tag.
The two sides could reach a deal well before the 2018 free-agent season, but here are five teams that will be waiting eagerly if things don't work out with Washington.
Arizona Cardinals
Carson Palmer is signed to a base salary of $12.5 million for 2018, but the Cardinals have an out following the 2017 season that would leave just $6.625 million in dead cap. The 37-year-old will be sidelined by injury for most of the remainder of the season, so retirement seems well within the range of possibilities too.
Arizona should be an enticing option for any free-agent quarterback, as they'll be able to wrap themselves in the safety blanket that is running back David Johnson. The receiving corps is rather lackluster, but signing Cousins could help the Cardinals entice 34-year-old Larry Fitzgerald to return for one more season.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos have very little money tied up in the trio of Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, and Brock Osweiler, leaving them free to target next summer's most expensive option.
Wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders offer plenty of firepower, and the defense will help convert a competent offense into an AFC contender.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger will likely flirt with retirement again this summer, particularly if the Steelers are able to send him off with a Super Bowl victory this season (or if he has a second five-interception game).
Cousins could then opt to chase his first championship as the leader of an offense featuring running back Le'Veon Bell and wide receivers Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Martavis Bryant. The Steelers would provide Cousins with the best weapons he's ever had and give him his best chance to win in the short term.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are equipped with a league-best defense and their selection of running back Leonard Fournette with the fourth pick of the 2017 draft has been vindicated. The only thing standing between them and a playoff spot this season is quarterback Blake Bortles, who has seven giveaways through seven games.
The Jaguars made the mistake of picking up Bortles' fifth-year option before the start of this season, putting them on the hook for $19 million in base salary next year. Should he truly play them out of contention this season, though, they'll have no choice but to finally move on.
Cousins would certainly help lure franchise wide receiver Allen Robinson to re-sign.
Miami Dolphins
As head coach Adam Gase continues to voice his frustrations with the Dolphins' offense, Tuesday's trade of running back Jay Ajayi was the team's first unconventional attempt to remedy the league-worst unit.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill will offer some improvement if he's able to return at full health next season, but the Dolphins could choose to cut him after this year - creating just $4.6 million in dead cap - and sign the superior Cousins instead.
With Jarvis Landry (not moved at Tuesday's deadline), DeVante Parker, and Kenny Stills all candidates to return next year, Cousins could thrive in the gunslinging system Gase wants to run.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
