Redskins' Kirk Cousins officially signs franchise tender

Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins officially signed his franchise tender on Thursday, locking him into a one-year, $19.95-million deal, unless the two sides agree on a long-term contract.

Cousins tweeted out his excitement about returning to Washington for at least another season, writing: "I'm told this is the final step in making it officially official. I am back with the Redskins for 2016! Thrilled for the opportunity! Let's get to work!"

Cousins and the Redskins are reportedly $4 million apart on his annual salary, meaning negotiations for a new deal could continue well into the offseason.

The 27-year-old had a breakout season in 2015, but has no track record of success beyond that. Letting Cousins play out the 2016 campaign under the tag would give the club an opportunity to evaluate whether he's truly the future of the franchise before committing to a lengthy deal.