The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Burgundy&GoldForever wrote:3 Years, $40 Million, $15 Million Guaranteed. Get it done, McCloughan.

DEHog wrote:If the Skins don’t overpay for Cousins, some other team will. The big question is are the Skins prepared to walk away if the offers for Cousins gets crazy…Maybe that why RG is still on the team.

There has been speculation that Cousins could end up in the $17 million per year range, perhaps higher. But you won’t find any one-year starters who are making that kind of money. Quarterbacks with contracts averaging from $17-$18 million per year are the likes of Peyton Manning, Alex Smith, Matt Stafford, Tony Romo and Jay Cutler. That’s too high for Cousins, who will have 25 career starts under his belt at the end of the season.

The market is likely to force Cousins to take less per season than most starting quarterbacks will make (a deal averaging $12 million per year would rank 21st among quarterbacks) but he won’t sign a long-term deal at that price. And he will want some incentives and escalators in case he does outperform the contract.

Putting all of that together, we’re looking at something in the neighborhood of three years in the $35-$40 million range with about $15 million guaranteed. Throw in the possibility of adding a couple of million per year in incentives and make the third year void if Cousins plays well and you have the outlines of a deal.

Some of you who are not sold on Cousins as the answer for the future might think that $40 million is an outrageous amount of money to pay him. But quarterbacks are expensive and they are expensive because of simple economics—the demand exceeds the supply. If you don’t pay Cousins, the question becomes who do you pay? There is not a tree somewhere that a team can go to and grab at quarterback who can post a perfect passer rating in a game or lead three fourth-quarter comebacks in a four-game span including one from 24 points down.

riggofan wrote:I think the focus should be less on the actual $$ amount and more on it being a team friendly deal that doesn't kill them if things don't work out. Snyder has the cash and Allen has the skill to make a deal like that.

The National Football League announced today that Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins has been named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the team’s Week 10 win against the New Orleans Saints.

DEHog wrote:If the Skins don’t overpay for Cousins, some other team will. The big question is are the Skins prepared to walk away if the offers for Cousins gets crazy…Maybe that why RG is still on the team.

DEHog wrote:If the Skins don’t overpay for Cousins, some other team will. The big question is are the Skins prepared to walk away if the offers for Cousins gets crazy…Maybe that why RG is still on the team.

Irn-Bru wrote:

DEHog wrote:If the Skins don’t overpay for Cousins, some other team will...

The key is to sign him to an extension, not to compete for him once he's a free agent. I don't think we'll have to overpay to keep him.

DEHog wrote:If the Skins don’t overpay for Cousins, some other team will. The big question is are the Skins prepared to walk away if the offers for Cousins gets crazy…Maybe that why RG is still on the team.

riggofan wrote:

DEHog wrote:If the Skins don’t overpay for Cousins, some other team will. The big question is are the Skins prepared to walk away if the offers for Cousins gets crazy…Maybe that why RG is still on the team.

hah. We wouldn't pay $15m next year for Cousins but we would pay $16m for Griffin? I don't think so.

Burgundy&GoldForever wrote:

Countertrey wrote:Why would this even be a question?

Because there are so many more appealing options.

Burgundy&GoldForever wrote:3 Years, $40 Million, $15 Million Guaranteed. Get it done, McCloughan.

StorminMormon86 wrote:Who are the 2 haters that voted "No"?

markshark84 wrote:

Burgundy&GoldForever wrote:3 Years, $40 Million, $15 Million Guaranteed. Get it done, McCloughan.

Initially I totally agreed with the 3 year length, but the thing about NFL contracts is they aren't fully guaranteed. We'll have 7 more games to get a better idea (and determine his worth). If we sign him to a 3 year deal around 12-15 a season, he continues his solid play during that contract, and the QB salaries continue on their current pace --- by year 4 the market will demand in the $25+M per year range.

If he continues to play well this year, I'd sign him to a cap-friendly 5-6 year backloaded deal, that won't take a huge hit if we need to cut/resign/etc. Whether that can be accomplished or not, I have no clue. That way if he blows up, we aren't stuck paying him tons after his deal and if he doesn't we can restructure or cut without a huge hit.

And while I am not sure what the market will demand as the season isn't over and we don't fully know the demand ---- personally, I see him between Alex Smith (4 yr., $68M, $45M Guaranteed) and Andy Dalton (6 yr., $96M, $17M Guaranteed) IF he has a couple teams after him; so perhaps in the 5 yr, $70M, $30M Guaranteed range. HOWEVER, if there is less demand, that price could be cut in half with a lot less guaranteed money.

Burgundy&GoldForever wrote: Ir really depends on the contract structure and the guaranteed money but I hate backloaded contracts. I'd rather they give him a shorter contract with more guaranteed money. He only made $660K this season so he's in for one hell of a pay raise in any case. If we were willing to commit $16 Million to RGIII I see no reason why we shouldn't be willing to commit that much to Cousins. Cousins has, after all, demonstrated an ability to win games from behind, something very few quarterbacks have done with any frequency. I think the guaranteed money gets it done. Give him the $16 Million guaranteed you were going to guarantee RGIII next year over a couple of years and it's cap friendly for the team and one hell of a payday for him.

markshark84 wrote:

Burgundy&GoldForever wrote: Ir really depends on the contract structure and the guaranteed money but I hate backloaded contracts. I'd rather they give him a shorter contract with more guaranteed money. He only made $660K this season so he's in for one hell of a pay raise in any case. If we were willing to commit $16 Million to RGIII I see no reason why we shouldn't be willing to commit that much to Cousins. Cousins has, after all, demonstrated an ability to win games from behind, something very few quarterbacks have done with any frequency. I think the guaranteed money gets it done. Give him the $16 Million guaranteed you were going to guarantee RGIII next year over a couple of years and it's cap friendly for the team and one hell of a payday for him.

We shouldn't give Cousins $16M per year if we aren't forced to. I don't think the market will dictate $16+M for Cousins, but I could very well be wrong on that one.... and I am certain to be wrong if he continues playing the type of football he has been playing over the past 3 games. But I totally agree that we need to do what it takes to re-sign him.

I also believe that the more guaranteed money you give a player, the worse it is for salary cap purposes. A good chunk of the guaranteed money is in the signing bonus and the longer the contract the more it is spread out (and better for the cap). Cousins will want a $10M+ signing bonus and that isn't a good number on a 3 year deal vs. a 5 or 6 year one. If you don't offer guaranteed money, it doesn't hit the cap if you cut the player; however, it does if it is guaranteed (from what I understand).

I do agree that players like the guaranteed money, but hopefully Cousins will be willing to negotiate a solid cap friendly deal.

Burgundy&GoldForever wrote:How many quarterbacks coming off one year contracts as a backup are offered five or six year contracts as a starter? I'm going to guess none.

riggofan wrote:Listening to Cousins' comments on his contract situation yesterday, I'm still not 100% convinced he would sign an extension today if it was offered. I won't be surprised at all if he wants to test the market in the off season.