Update: March 1st, 5:10 p.m. ET
The Redskins have placed the non-exlucise franchise tag on Cousins. That means a team could still sign Cousins, although it would give the Redskins two first round draft picks as compensation.
Update: Feb. 26th, 2:45 p.m.
There is a report that the Redskins will use either the franchise or transition tag on Cousins. However, there is another report that says no decision has been made.
Original Story Below:
Quarterback Kirk Cousins led the Washington Redskins to the NFC East title in his first full season as the starter, giving the team hope that they have finally found a long-term answer at the position. However, Cousins is slated to be a free agent this offseason, and both sides broke off contract talks yesterday after failing to reach an agreement - and without plans to negotiate further. Washington is expected to use their franchise tag to keep Cousins on their roster next season, but there's a growing thought that they may not do that.
So, if the Redskins somehow decide to let Cousins walk, what's next for them? Here are four quarterbacks they could target to replace him.
4) Cody Kessler - USC Trojans
If the Redskins don't want to completely commit to a new QB, taking a player in the middle rounds makes sense, and Kessler could fit that mold. He's been incredibly accurate in his time at USC, although there are questions about his size and arm strength. It's still early, but Kessler could be on the board in the round three, making him an absolute steal.
3) Paxton Lynch - Memphis Tigers
Lynch made his name known following an upset win over Ole Miss. That game forced everyone to take a closer look at Lynch, and he's a talented QB. He has incredible size and great arm strength, allowing him to make every NFL throw and doesn't commit many turnovers. He's an underrated runner, too, although his down finish to the year hurt his stock. Lynch should be a first round pick and should be available when the Redskins pick. There will be a bit of a learning curve for Lynch, but he could turn into a franchise QB.
2) Sam Bradford - Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles aren't going to want to pay Bradford the premium he'll command on the open market this offseason, especially with his injury history. Bradford's mobility is severly limited at this juncture of his career and he doesn't have the biggest arm, but he has the Elway gene when it comes to his decision-making skills and his ability to hit in the short-to-intermediate range with alarming consistency. If they can sign him to a managable deal, Bradford is a veteran who is a feasible option that could provide a steady presence for the Redskins.
1) Brock Osweiler - Denver Broncos
Osweiler played well as a starter for the Broncos this season with 1,967 passing yards and 10 touchdowns in eight appearances, but his future with the team is still up in the air as they're holding off on negotiating with him until Peyton Manning makes a decision. Since Osweiler is a free agent, that leaves the possibility of another team coming in an scooping him up, which the Redskins would be smart to do if they let Cousins go.
Osweiler has more arm talent and is more mobile than Cousins, making him an upgrade from a pure talent perspective. He has all of the tools that Jay Gruden looks for in a quarterback, and the fact that he's still young (25) and has learned behind Manning would make him an excellent catch.
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