[skinsfaninok]

The Jets have a projected $80 million in salary-cap space for 2018 that will balloon to at least $100 million with expected cuts of veterans such as Muhammad Wilkerson and Matt Forte.

Cousins, 29, has been franchised the last two seasons by the Redskins after failing to reach a deal on a long-term contract. Washington franchised Cousins for the 2017 season with a price tag of $23.9 million. If a player is franchised a third consecutive year, that salary increases by 144 percent, based on the collective-bargaining agreement.