The Most Likely Destinations for Kirk Cousins

Redskins: 30% - This was much lower a few weeks ago, before I heard the interview at his fan event. The promising thing here is at least Kirk and his agent seem open to discussing a long-term deal with the Redskins. The down-side is, they seem to want the team to make a decision on whether or not to use the tag for the third straight year before entering into any contract talks. We’ll see if they hold true to this stance, but if so, it takes away any leverage the Redskins have if they let the March window to tag players go by before they begin negotiations.

Pros: Kirk was given his chance to start in the NFL by Jay Gruden. He has thrived in this offense, throwing for over 4000 yards in each of his past three seasons, and completing at least 64 percent of his passes. He knows the offense well, and the Redskins are just a few key players (and injuries) away from being a contender. Kirk has already led the team to a division title, a playoff birth and was named to the Pro Bowl (2016).

Cons: Someone, whether it was former General Manager Scot McCloughan, current General Manager Bruce Allen, head coach Jay Gruden, or owner Daniel Snyder has been unwilling to offer Kirk that big payday he’s been looking for. Two straight years of being franchised tagged without a legitimate long-term offer may have left a sour taste in his month. And then there is Bruce Allen...

Broncos: 20% - The Broncos are a well run organization that is just a good quarterback away from being a perennial contender. General Manager John Elway values good quarterback play, and has no problem bringing in a veteran to man the position (see Peyton Manning). The Broncos are likely to have about $28.5 million in cap space, but can free up an additional $11 million by releasing Aquib Talib.

Pros: The Broncos have a solid offensive line, a good receiving corps and a very capable running back. Their defense is strong, and would represent an upgrade from the one Kirk has in D.C., thus allowing the team to stay competitive in most games.

Cons: Denver has some high-priced veterans and pending free agents who may not be able to be retained if they give Cousins the mega-deal he’s looking for. Talib, Derek Wolfe and Donald Stephenson are some guys who may not be back in 2018 if this were to happen.

Cardinals: 20% - Much like Denver, the Cardinals have been successful with a veteran quarterback under center. The retirement of Carson Palmer leaves them in a major hole, as they currently have Blaine Gabbert and Drew Stanton manning the position, and neither one should be viewed as a long-term option.

Pros: Arizona has a solid base on offense, with the ageless Larry Fitzgerald as their go-to receiver, and plenty of speed on the outside to stretch the field vertically. They also have one of the best running backs in the league in the do-it-all David Johnson, who will return healthy in 2018. They play in some outstanding weather at home.

Cons: Bruce Arians announced his retirement at the end of the season, and his replacement should and will be monitored closely by the Cousins’ camp. The Cardinals will be a bit tight with the salary cap, so this could factor in.

Jets: 15% - Don’t count the Jets out of the running for Kirk Cousins. They were extremely competitive with below-average quarterback play under Todd Bowles in 2018, after many expected them to be one of the worst teams in the NFL. They have went to the draft-well in an attempt to find their franchise signal caller, but that hasn’t worked out too well. It may be time for them to find a proven veteran to lead the charge in NY.

Pros: The Jets have plenty of cap space, with an estimated $80 million in room for 2018. The New York market could be very desirable for Kirk from a marketing standpoint. Bowles is a well respected coach, who commands the respect of his players, and Cousins might fit in very well with the culture he’s building. The Jets defense is young and very good.

Cons: Cousins has expressed his desire to go to a team where he can win. The Jets are on the rise, but they play in a tough division, which features the Patriots and resurgent Bills.

Jaguars: 10% - This is an interesting one. The Jaguars are moving in the right direction, and have a ton of young talent to continue building around. However, they have already picked up the fifth year option on Blake Bortles, who guided his team to the playoffs, and may want to see how he progresses before making a final decision on him after the 2018 season.

Pros: The Jags are a young team with a boatload of talent. They play in a desirable market, with limited media pressure. Kirk’s wife Julie was born and raised in the south (Georgia).

Cons: The Jaguars currently have just $18 million in cap space. Some moves could free up more, but a mega-contract to Cousins would strap them a bit. They do have some pending free agents they would like to retain. They did pick up Bortles’ fifth year option, and the owner hinted they will be sticking with Blake.

The Rest: 5%

Giants: Moving on from Eli Manning could free up the cap space to offer Cousins a long-term deal. The offensive line is not good, but the weapons are there in the receiving corps. It’s a long-shot, but stranger things have happened.

Browns: They have plenty of cap space, but they have been the worst team in the NFL over the past few years. They have the number one and number four overall picks in the draft, and new GM John Dorsey may want to take a signal caller from a loaded quarterback class. Cousins built a house on the shores of Lake Michigan recently.

Bills: The Bills, despite a playoff appearance, may want to move on from Tyrod Taylor. They are estimated to have nearly $40 million in cap space, and could put together an offer to lure Cousins to Buffalo. They will remain competitive as long as they have a competent player under center.

Bengals: Is it possible for the Bengals to move away from Andy Dalton and make a run at Cousins...? It’s possible, but not likely.