Redskins Place Exclusive Franchise Tag on QB Kirk Cousins

Backed against the wall with potential suitors lining up, Washington placed its exclusive franchise tag on quarterback Kirk Cousins on Tuesday.

Cousins, 27, played under the team's franchise tag in 2016. The two sides attempted to work out a long-term contract for months to no avail, before Cousins put together a season that made him one of the most coveted free agents on the market.

Because Washington used its exclusive tag on Cousins, he is not eligible to negotiate with other teams. The non-exclusive tag would have given him the right to negotiate a contract elsewhere, with Washington having the right to match the deal or receive draft-pick compensation in exchange.

"We did exclusive deal because we were tired of the nonsense of possible trade scenarios out there," Redskins president Bruce Allen said Thursday, per Sirius XM NFL Radio. 

Trey Wingo of ESPN noted Cousins is the 17th player in NFL history to receive the exclusive tag. He is also the first quarterback to get the franchise tag in consecutive seasons. Albert Breer of The MMQB noted the tag will cost Washington roughly $23.94 million. The two sides have until July 15 to reach a long-term contract.

"I want to be where I'm wanted, and if they tag me, that tells you that you're wanted," Cousins told ESPN 980 (via the team's official release). "They are not going to tag you or commit to you if they don't want you. So if they tag me, then that's great and it means they want me back. Whether I sign a five-year deal or a one-year franchise tag, I'm going to feel like I'm on a one-year deal every year and have to prove myself week in and week out. If they tag me, great, it looks like I'm wanted. If they don't, then that sends a strong message, too, and let's go look at our options."

In 2016, Cousins threw for a career-high 4,917 yards and 25 touchdowns against 12 interceptions, numbers on par or better than his breakout 2015 campaign. He has thrown for more than 9,000 yards and 54 total touchdowns across his two seasons as a starter under Jay Gruden. While Washington failed to make the playoffs, losing four of its final six games, Gruden clearly wanted him back.

"I don't know what Kirk has to do as a quarterback to prove that he belongs in the National Football League as a starter. I think he had a great year," Gruden told reporters after Washington dropped its regular-season finale against the New York Giants. "Overall, I think the amount of times he dropped back to pass and made some unbelievable throws in some great games, I think he belongs in the NFL as a starting quarterback, that's for sure, and hopefully it's here."

Cousins was fifth in Football Outsiders' DVOA metric among quarterbacks. The website ranked him ahead of Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck and Ben Roethlisberger in that category.

Cousins' numbers and performance seem to have a bit of Andy Dalton Syndrome—good enough to get you close but not good enough to get you all the way there. He could look like a perennial Pro Bowler one week and then throw you out of the game the next. 

After the season, Cousins declined to assess his performance.

"I don't know if that's for me to say or try to defend myself," he told reporters. "I think that you [reporters] do a great job of evaluating me, and coaches do a great job evaluating. It's my job to go out and play and then, after games, to get back to work and prep for the next opportunity—in this case, for next season. I'll leave that for other people and just keep trying to get better."

Washington is paying Cousins at an elite level for the second straight season, which will make it harder to retain other key stars. Receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon are free agents, and it's unlikely both will return. Jamison Crowder will be back, but Jackson gives Washington a downfield presence that has made life easier on Cousins.

With offensive coordinator Sean McVay having left to become the Los Angeles Rams' head coach, 2017 may be Cousins' make-or-break year.