The Washington Redskins have a major decision on their hands heading into this upcoming offseason concerning Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins' pending free agency. Head coach Jay Gruden has exhaustively addressed the topic over the last few weeks.
Changing his tone, Gruden has now made it clear that he is comfortable with whatever comes about of the potential contract negotiations with Cousins, according to JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington. Even if it means another one-year deal.
“Whatever happens, happens. We’re going to coach whoever is in the building, and if we get [Cousins] for a one-year, it’s a one year,” Gruden said. “We’ll do the best we can with it.”
These comments could be interpreted as a backtrack of his previous stance that he prefers not to bring back the 29-year-old on the franchise tag for the third straight offseason. It also indicates that the Redskins are considering once again placing that designation on Cousins in order to keep him for another year.
Washington would first have to be comfortable with the idea of paying their quarterback an excess of $30 million in 2018. Doing so would commit a significant amount of their salary cap space, handicapping the front office from making other moves to help reshape the roster in free agency or on the trade market.
Cousins has proven to be a viable starting quarterback for the Redskins over the last few seasons. He has thrown for more than 4,000 yards with at least 25 touchdowns and a passer rating above 90 in each campaign over the last three years. Although the Redskins have struggled to break through with him under center, he has provided the franchise much stability at the position.
Many factors are at play here for the Redskins, which make the decision-making process with Cousins' future quite complicated. Their direction should become clearer over the next few weeks.
