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

And just like that, Kirk Cousins future in D.C. looks a lot more promising.

With Jimmy Garoppolo heading to the San Francisco 49ers -- the most popular free agent destination for the Washington Redskins quarterback -- and likely spelling the end of the notion that the Bay Area would be Cousins' next destination.

While it's no certainty that Cousins will remain with the Redskins, taking the 49ers off the board vastly changes the complexity of contract negotiations between the two sides. Suddenly, a team in desperate need of a starting quarterback now has one for the future, eliminating arguably the biggest threat to the Redskins re-signing their signal caller.

Other suitors still remain for Cousins, with the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings chief amongst them. Thankfully for the Redskins, each team faces major hurdles in making that dream become a reality.

In Minnesota, the Vikings currently have two starting-caliber quarterbacks on their roster in Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater. While both will be free agents at the end of the season, the Vikings hold out hope that Bridgewater, once deemed their franchise quarterback, will make a full comeback from the devastating knee injury he suffered prior to the start of last season. Should that be the case, re-signing him will be nothing more than a formality, likely ending any potential pursuit for Cousins.

Denver is another with glaring issues at the quarterback position, however salary cap problems will come into play. According to Spotrac.com, the Broncos are expected to be amongst the bottom of the league in available cap space next season, greatly diminishing the likelihood that they would be willing to pay over the odds for Cousins, something the 49ers and Vikings would be in a position to do.

Effectively, the Redskins could be in a position to re-sign Cousins long-term for less than what he would likely be able to command from a team like the 49ers. That bodes well for the Redskins when it comes to negotiations -- should there be any -- moving forward.

It's still far from guaranteedd that the 28-year-old will stick around, but it certainly changes the dynamic of what is shaping up to be a delicate situation this offseason.

Author
Kyle Tasman @Tasman24/7

SkinsJock wrote:this FO has made some really bad mistakes the past few years

while no franchise is mistake free, so many of the decisions made here are baffling to say the least - we have become a franchise that die hard supporters (like me) keep hoping that a better time is not far away ... and it never gets here

flamethrower wrote:Well Cousins looks to be gone. Big trade between K.C. and Skins. Skins got Alex Smith. Chiefs got 3rd round pick, and Corner Back Kendall Fuller. Look to see Cousins get traded soon. Alex Smith last season had a much better O-Line.

SkinsJock wrote: PLEASE clarify how this franchise can trade Kirk Cousins?

SkinsJock wrote:

flamethrower wrote:Well Cousins looks to be gone. Big trade between K.C. and Skins. Skins got Alex Smith. Chiefs got 3rd round pick, and Corner Back Kendall Fuller. Look to see Cousins get traded soon. Alex Smith last season had a much better O-Line.

PLEASE clarify how this franchise can trade Kirk Cousins?

Kirk Cousins still hasn’t won over Minnesota, but his best chance is here

By Adam Kilgore December 1 at 7:07 AM

Playing for the Minnesota Vikings on a fully guaranteed contract, Kirk Cousins enjoys professional security and personal stability while chasing a Super Bowl for a steady franchise. Playing for the Washington Redskins on a series of one-year deals, Cousins wondered about his job status and place of residence while attempting to tame ever-present chaos and overcome ingrained mediocrity. His new employer coveted him and embraces him. His old one mispronounced his name.

For all the polarity Cousins experienced between this season and last, the way his team’s fan base thinks about him has remained static. For years in Washington, he existed as both a promising quarterback and a source of regional queasiness: Is he worth the big contract the team could give him? For half a season in Minnesota, he has existed as both franchise quarterback and a source regional queasiness: Is he worth the big contract the team gave him?

Late Sunday afternoon, Cousins will take his latest crack at putting Minnesotans at peace about their 30-year-old, $84-million quarterback. In the thick of the NFC playoff picture at 6-4-1, the Vikings will travel to New England for another crucial game that will clarify the relationship between Cousins and his new home, another data point in Cousins’s new reality.

<snip>

“It’s always complicated,” Vikings quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski said. “There’s always things in every game where you say, he can do better. And there’s always plays where you say, ‘That’s uncoachable.’ He does some special things, because he has some God-given talent. The answer is always in the middle when it comes to quarterback play and quarterback evaluation.”

SkinsJock wrote:thanks welch - interesting read - the Vikings did not greatly improve their chances at being in the Super Bowl by giving Cousins $84M

welch wrote:

SkinsJock wrote:thanks welch - interesting read - the Vikings did not greatly improve their chances at being in the Super Bowl by giving Cousins $84M

Seems like the Vikings' problems are at OL. The article mentions that they have had problems blocking for Cousins.

DarthMonk wrote:If the Vikings find a way to beat Chicago Sunday they will be 9-6-1. If they lose they will be 8-7-1 and could miss the playoffs.