Schefter: No deal close between Kirk Cousins and the Redskins; Cousins open to deal next year

Tomorrow is the final day for team’s to sign players who received the franchise tag this year to a long-term deal. ESPN’s Adam Schefter says no deal is close between the Washington Redskins and QB Kirk Cousins. He reports the same for the other two franchise tag players who have not signed, Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell and Rams CB Trumaine Johnson.

There have been no leaks about terms that either side is proposing leading up to the deadline. The last reported contract offer from the Redskins was a $20 million per year, 5 year extension on top of this years tag, but the guarantees were reportedly low. This was offered at the Combine, and since then it’s been a waiting game.

The $20m/yr offer is obviously not going to get the deal done, if it’s possible to do a deal at all. Derek Carr’s new deal, the leverage from the franchise tag, and the growing salary cap puts Cousins’ asking price in the $24-26 million per year range. Cousins is scheduled to earn $23.94 million this year on his 2nd franchise tag from the Redskins. If no deal is made, Washington can either transition tag him(~$28 million), franchise tag him(~$34 million), or let him test free agency next year.

Maybe next year.

There has been a positive, constructive tone to recent contract talks, per sources. However, Cousins prefers to wait to do a deal at this time, just as the Redskins preferred to wait to do a deal at this time last year.

1 more day to go...