March 2018 - Washington Football Team Wiretap

Washington Unlikely To Tag Kirk Cousins

Feb 28, 2018 5:51 PM

Washington doesn't plan on using the franchise tag on Kirk Cousins again this offseason.

Washington has already traded for Alex Smith to replace Cousins. The team could conceivably tag Cousins and then trade him to get more than a 2019 compensatory pick.

"I don't think so," Doug Williams said of doing such a move. "But it's not too late. But we haven't really talked about that. The media had come up with those scenarios more than what we've talked about it because I can't remember one meeting where we talked about the possibility of tagging him."

If Cousins didn't sign the franchise tender, Washington would be unable to trade him and he would cost $34.5 million on the cap. If he did sign the tender, then he could block a deal by saying he wouldn't sign a long-term deal with the team trading for him.

Cousins started the last three seasons, twice setting franchise records for passing yards.

John Keim/ESPN

Tags: Washington Football Team, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Cardinals May Not Be Able To Afford Kirk Cousins

Feb 26, 2018 12:25 PM

The Arizona Cardinals need a quarterback following the retirement of Carson Palmer, but Kirk Cousins is an unlikely option.

According to Mike Jurecki of Arizona Sports 98.7, Cousins is expected to command too much money.

The Cardinals have $24 million in cap space, which is less than several teams that could also be in the market for Cousins -- the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos.

Michael David Smith/Pro Football Talk

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Washington Football Team, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Jets Could Offer $60M Guaranteed In Year 1 To Kirk Cousins

Feb 20, 2018 3:40 PM

The New York Jets are viewed by many around the NFL to sign Kirk Cousins.

The Jets are currently projected to have $73.2 million in salary cap space. They could push that number to $92 million by releasing Muhammad Wilkerson and Matt Forte.

One league source speculated the Jets could front-load the contract and offer Cousins $60 million guaranteed in the first year of the contract. That would still leave them with about $30 million in cap space this year and then allow them to build around Cousins with lower cap figures in the remaining years of the contract.

The Jets could even guarantee the entirety of the contract.

During Super Bowl week, Cousins said he wanted to sign with a team that is ready to win.

 

Brian Costello/New York Post

Tags: New York Jets, Washington Football Team, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Joe Thomas Lobbies Kirk Cousins To Consider Browns

Feb 16, 2018 10:39 AM

Joe Thomas wants Kirk Cousins to consider signing with the Cleveland Browns when he hits the free agent market next month.

Cousins tweeted on Tuesday that he and his family we're "interested in hearing where the best spot is for us."

Thomas replied: "I hear Cleveland is nice this time of year, that is, if you'd like to have a statue someday..."

Thomas then touted Cleveland as the perfect place for Cousins to become a hero. The Washington Redskins traded for Alex Smith earlier this offseason, signally the end for Cousins.

"You could make MORE money and MORE history in Cleveland than anywhere else, by FAR," Thomas wrote. "Don't just go and be another quarterback somewhere else!"

Marc Sessler/NFL

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Washington Football Team, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Su'a Cravens Reinstated By NFL

Feb 14, 2018 5:47 PM

Su'a Cravens has been reinstated by the NFL.

Cravens sat out the 2017 season after telling Washington in early September that he was pondering retirement.

At the time of his announcement, Cravens declined to provide insight into why he opted to step away but he did indicate a potential return: "Hopefully, around this time next year I'll be back on that field."

Cravens has three years left on his original deal. If Washington released or traded him, it wouldn't be a big cap hit. 

Field Yates/ESPN

Tags: Washington Football Team, Misc Rumor

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Kirk Cousins Prefers To Sign With Vikings

Feb 4, 2018 4:27 PM

Paul Allen of KFAN reported that a source told him that the Vikings are "number one with a bullet" on Kirk Cousins' list. Minnesota has one of the NFL's best defenses.

Cousins will leave Washington this offseason after they acquired Alex Smith.

The Browns, Jets and Cardinals also are expected to have interest in Cousins.

Mary Kay Cabot/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Tags: Minnesota Vikings, Washington Football Team, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Kirk Cousins: Alex Smith Trade 'Came As A Surprise'

Feb 3, 2018 11:56 AM

Kirk Cousins was surprised by Washington's trade for Alex Smith this offseason.

Washington will trade a third round pick and Kendall Fuller to the Kansas City Chiefs for Smith once the new league season opens on March 14th.

Cousins will then become a free agent at the start of the league year.

"I knew it would be a tough decision if it came down to deciding what to do in free agency," Cousins told ESPN's NFL Live on Friday. "So the fact that the decision was made for me gave me relief. It certainly was tough emotionally to know I was having to leave a city that I had so many memories."

Cousins also told NFL Live that he spoke to several members of the organization the following day, including owner Dan Snyder and coach Jay Gruden.

"Coach Gruden called me the next day and communicated that my desire to draw the process out through March was going to make it tough on them," Cousins said. "They couldn't afford to wait so they had to make a move. They wanted to do a deal, but because I wanted to go a little longer it put them in a tough spot. So they made the trade. I understood that. He said, 'I wish you all the best. We had a good run and look forward to seeing you in the future.' "

Cousins also told Sirius XM Radio on Friday that the subsequent days since the news were "not as bad as you might think."

"It came as a surprise," he told Sirius. "I certainly hadn't heard anything. In this league, I learned curveballs come all the time. I expect to be a free agent come March 14. We'll see if that plays out. If it does, it's a unique opportunity I look forward to. I haven't had a chance to pick where I play since 2007, when I chose to go to Michigan State."

John Keim/ESPN

Tags: Washington Football Team, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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