For the second consecutive seasons Kirk Cousins may be forced to play for way more money than he’s actually worth. To keep Cousins from hitting free agency, the Washington Redskins placed the franchise tag on Cousins and unless they can forge a long-term contract before July 15, they’ll have to pay him $23.94 million in 2017.
Yeah. That’s right. Nearly $24 million for Kirk Cousins.
Tag! I'm it!
— Kirk Cousins (@KirkCousins8) February 28, 2017
Now I’m not shitting on Cousins, per se. He’s obviously earned his spot as a starting NFL quarterback and he’s absolutely the best option the Redskins have going forward. But $24 million? Yikes. If he doesn’t get that long-term deal he will enter 2017 as the third highest paid QB in the league behind Andrew Luck and Drew Brees. He’ll be making more than Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger and Russell Wilson. More than Cam Newton, who just signed a new contract a couple of years ago.
Quarterbacks are always going to get the massive contract and Cousins’ situation puts Washington in a bad spot. I’m sure they’d love to pay him a contract that he’s worth. And that would still be a massive deal, probably $18-19 million a year. But Cousins is going to want that $24 million number to stay there and, frankly, the Redskins will probably just have to bend over and take it.
#Redskins place exclusive franchise tag on QB @KirkCousins8.
📰: https://t.co/BeuQJqIVaX pic.twitter.com/LewsZonrZB
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) February 28, 2017
Washington used the “exclusive rights” tag on Cousins, meaning he can’t negotiate with another team while they are working on a deal. That doesn’t mean Cousins couldn’t leave the Redskins, he just can’t control who his suitor happens to be. Considering Washington would get two first round picks out of the deal, it’s hard to see a team, even one desperate for a QB like San Francisco, ponying up that price.
If Cousins does play out this tag, like he did last year’s franchise tag, the Redskins will have paid him $43.89 million over two years, all guaranteed. That’s more than they would have paid if they’d just signed him last year to the $20 million or so contract I’d bet he would have taken.
#Redskins place exclusive franchise tag on Kirk Cousins, which prevents him from talking to other teams. pic.twitter.com/Qhbhjf1DfE
— Redskins SPORTalk (@SPORTalkSkins) February 28, 2017
Even though the Redskins didn’t make the playoffs last season, Cousins still have a fantastic year under center. He completed 67 percent of his passes for 4,917 yards, 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He performed so well he not only got himself franchised again, but got his offensive coordinator Sean McVay hired as the new head coach of the Los Angeles Rams.
The Redskins have no choice to cave into Cousins’ contract demands because the franchise tag for his services next season with be $34.47 million. Oh yeah. More than likely Cousins and Washington will come to an agreement that makes him the highest paid QB in the NFL, something north of Luck’s $24.594 million a year even if it’s just a few bucks.
Cousins bet on himself in 2016 and the Redskins have to pay up. There’s just no other choice.
Browns place second-round tender on Isaiah Crowell
Unless you play a lot of daily fantasy football, Isaiah Crowell’s sold season for the Cleveland Browns may have escaped your attention. The third-year running back averaged 4.8 yards per carry for Cleveland, gaining 952 yards and scoring seven touchdowns. He added 40 catches for 319 yards and displayed all the talents needed to be an all-around running back in the NFL.
#Browns placed a 2nd round tender on RB Isaiah Crowell worth $2.81M. The two sides are working on a long-term deal & hope that replaces this
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 28, 2017
His contract was also up as the team signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama State in 2014. The second-round tender is worth $2.81 million for Crowell, but he and the team are working on a long-term deal. In the meantime, Crowell is free to negotiate with another team and that team would be forced to surrender a second round pick to the Browns if they signed him.
With a load of picks in April’s NFL Draft, I’m not sure how much more than $3 million a year Crowell is worth to the Browns, even after his three solid seasons. The Browns pick No. 1 and No. 12 and if they’re smart enough to pick a QB at No. 1, they could be looking at adding Leonard Fournette or Dalvin Cook at 12 for their own Dak Prescott – Ezekiel Elliott situation. It’s something to think about.
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