Washington and quarterback Kirk Cousins have until July 15 to work out any sort of contract extension under the rules of his franchise tag. Once July 15 passes, Cousins cannot sign an extension until the 2018 league begins next March. Cousins could hit unrestricted free agency at that point, but Washington has made it clear they will consider all their options when it comes to retaining him.
Washington tagged Cousins this offseason for a second straight year, and barring an extension will pay him $24 million. This is already an unprecedented move, as teams generally don’t use the franchise tag two straight years, especially on a quarterback.