2017 NFL Free Agency Rumors: Kirk Cousins Trade Heating Up

Dec 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) before warmups against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2017 NFL free agency tampering period is active. Teams and agents have two days to begin negotiating before the league year begins March 9th.

The buzz on this has been ongoing for the past couple weeks that one blockbuster moves is definitely in play. Some feel that the San Francisco 49ers are determined to land Kirk Cousins as their starting quarterback. Their new head coach Kyle Shanahan has connection to the 29-year old Pro Bowler. Washington has him under the franchise tag but it appears their odds of locking him up long-term are shrinking. Thus a trade is their best course of action. Mike Silver of NFL Network reported that one is likely.

.@MikeSilver tells @NFLNetwork 'it's more likely than not that Kirk Cousins ends up being the 49ers quarterback.'
— Marc Sessler (@MarcSessler) March 7, 2017

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Cousins posted his second-straight winning record for the Redskins in 2016. He also passed for over 4,900 yards. Yet the team has remained reluctant to meet his numbers for a long-term contract. The idea being they don’t believe he deserves top 5 money. Instead he’s been more the product of a strong supporting cast and good play-calling. Arguments have gone on since last year without any sort of notable progress.

Word is though that Cousins would sign a long-term deal to join the 49ers. He likes Shanahan and San Francisco has more than enough salary cap space to reach the dollar amount he’s looking for at $93 million. They could hand him a fat, new deal and still have plenty leftover to keep remodeling their entire roster if they wished.

It comes down to a matter of compensation. No doubt Cousins being a Pro Bowler in his prime will demand a high price from the Redskins. The conversation almost certainly will involve the 49ers’ #2 overall pick in the draft. Not to mention an assortment of other selections. San Francisco would be taking quite a leap. Clearly they feel Cousins is somebody they can build around for the future.

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