Written by Rick Snider at Washington Post.com
The Redskins shouldn’t even whisper the words “franchise tag” to Kirk Cousins unless they’re prepared to blow up the team in 2018.
Wednesday marks the beginning of a roughly two-week window in which teams can use the franchise tag. Redskins president Bruce Allen and coach Jay Gruden have each said the team wants Cousins to be their quarterback long-term. If that’s true, Washington enters a delicate negotiation in which it will try to keep the passer without shelling out $25 million or more per year for up to six years.
The team bulldozed through contract talks last year, instead opting to pay Cousins $19.95 million for one season under the franchise tag and setting up a subsequent deal-making process that could turn poisonous.
If the club is serious about keeping Cousins, its tactics need to change. Make a real offer this time instead of the lowball proposal of $16 million in annual pay it reportedly extended last year.
This is a watershed moment two years in the making. If Washington fumbles negotiations again, it could tag Cousins for $24 million on a one-year deal with the knowledge that he’ll likely count the days until he can leave. The Redskins can’t afford to tag him a third time in 2018.
Allen says the team wants Cousins to stay, but there’s no reason to believe him. It’s equally feasible Allen wants to cut spending, let the quarterback go and ride that dysfunction into a power grab next year.
Fans want to believe the franchise has changed, but more turnover at the top would be right in line with its history. If tag drama affects Cousins, and Gruden doesn’t direct a major improvement this year, Allen could get rid of the coach with a year left on his deal and send general manager Scot McCloughan packing to boot.
Nobody wants that.
Although the tag could help the team buy more time to negotiate with Cousins through the summer, a long-term resolution didn’t come together under the same scenario last season.
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