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Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins finally sees that blinking light at the end of the tunnel. More appropriately, he sees the light fully understanding the rainbow leading to that long-term pot of gold awaiting his right pigskin-flinging arm.
His 2017 employer, the Washington Redskins, just agreed to a blockbuster trade for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith, and minutes later, they agreed in principle to a four-year contract extension with the signal-caller. As a result, the Michigan State product will finally be a free man — one who actually enters the NFL free market without the annoyance of playing out his financial situation year-to-year.
His long-term future is about to become more secure than any of the 32 NFL franchises want it to be.
With each piece of the money pie rising, so does the NFL salary cap. And, so do open-market contracts as Cousins is set to, arguably, become the richest quarterback in all of football.
Where does he go? According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, four possible landing spots are the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, and Denver Broncos.
In my mind, these are the three franchises that make the most sense for Cousins.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
It's interesting that one of the three suitors listed actually played into late January, but the Jacksonville Jaguars could be a perfect landing spot for Cousins.
Despite the team's shocking success during the 2017 tournament, Blake Bortles hasn't allowed anybody in that front office to sleep soundly. Playing out the fourth year of a five-year rookie deal, Bortles' shakey awareness leading to the kid bolting the pocket doesn't allow anybody in West Florida to feel giddy about the offense's future.
Along with this spry defense and heavy ground-and-pound rushing attack led by Cam Robinson and Leonard Fournette, perhaps the signing of Kirk Cousins is exactly what the football doctor ordered.
Think Tom Coughlin. Think Doug Marrone. Would it surprise anybody to see those two throwback Jags leaders ditch the number one overall selection and go with the surefire thing to complete a well-rounded future?
The only question surrounding a Cousins-Jags marriage comes when thinking of cap space. Most projections have Jacksonville's number around $18 million at the moment, prior to offseason movement.
2. New York Jets
Ah, yes. No Kirk Cousins rumor-filled spot in this world could go documented without the franchise that hasn't felt the impact of a true franchise quarterback since the mid-1970s.
The New York Jets have been in need of a QB since the first two editions of The Godfather were released to the public. What's more is they actually have the money to reel him in comfortably.
With more than $80 million in cap space (not including the predictable veteran cap casualties in Matt Forte and Muhammad Wilkerson), Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bowles may just lean towards the solution of the veteran—the guy who can provide instant production.
Stretching back as far as Mark Sanchez, the names are many: Geno Smith, Bryce Petty, Christian Hackenberg. Perhaps Gang Green travels down the safe, yet capped, route of Cousins.
1. Minnesota Vikings
Forget one playoff team that made it to Championship Sunday. Let's play two.
Should the Minnesota Vikings lose Case Keenum, Kirk Cousins could be the answer.
We already know offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is gone. Once Minny's season is over, he'll be heading east to man one of the offices at MetLife Stadium over in the swamps of New Jersey.
Where does Keenum go?
As a veteran QB who's finally cashed in on a career-year, Keenum is entering the free-market with his first (and possibly only) chance to cash in.
In fact, the Vikings may be the perfect landing spot for Cousins. Not only does the franchise employ a nasty defensive-first roster and a head coach looking for the long-term answer on the other side of the ball, they're loaded with plenty of money to burn this coming offseason (over $55 million).
At this point, it's a pure guessing game. Not until early offseason movement shakes out will we first feel how the Cousins wind is blowing.
At this stage, however, the above three teams have to lead the pack for the services of Kirk Cousins, and whether it comes in the form of the playoff-ready Jags and Vikes or the rebuilding Jets, his options scream contrast.
