Redskins Will “Most Likely” Use Transition Tag On Kirk Cousins

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that while the Redskins and the agent for QB Kirk Cousins will meet before Tuesday’s deadline to franchise players, the expectation is that they “most likely” will use the transition tag on him.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter previously reported that the Redskins were tagging Cousins, but still deciding between whether to use the franchise or transition tag on him.

The franchise tag would run the Redskins close to $20 million guaranteed while the transition tag would save them around $2.257 million.

The transition tag would give them the right of first refusal, which allows them to match an offer he receives on the open market.

Redskins GM Scot McCloughan told reporters at the Combine that conversations are going on “every day” Cousins and his reps. McCloughan added: “He wants to be a Redskin.”

McCloughan did, however, make it clear that he won’t overextend the franchise to get Cousins locked up long-term.

“I would love to do a long-term deal with Kirk, but I’m not going to ruin the organization financially to do it,” McCloughan said, per Michael Phillips.

Previous reports have said that Washington would like to pay their quarterback between $16-$18 million per year, but it appears Cousins is willing to gamble on himself in 2016.

Cousins, 27, played out the final year of his four-year, $2,572,688 rookie contract that included a $472,688 signing bonus and was in position to be the best available quarterback in this year’s free agent market.

In 2015, Cousins threw for 4,166 yards while completing 69.8 percent of his passes to go along with 29  touchdowns and 11 interceptions over the course of 16 games. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 16 quarterback out of 37 qualifying players.

We have him featured in our Top 100 – 2016 Free Agents list.