Cousins 3.0, he's going to sign the franchise tag

[metalskins]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I agree with this. What Cousins was offered in relation to other QB deals is irrelevant. What matters is his opportunity cost.

If he can get $24M under this franchise tag, and $34M under next year's franchise tag (combined $58M), why would he take an offer with only $53M that gives up control for six years?

It's not about the pay relative to other QBs. He's basically taking this position:

- NFL players don't get enough guaranteed money

- the only way I'll relinquish control of my future and sign for a LTD is if you guarantee a major portion of it

- since I am pretty confident you'll franchise me again next year, I can get $58M over the next two seasons. Maybe you won't, but I'm betting on myself. So if I think $58M guaranteed for two years is feasible, then...

- you need to drastically increase the guarantees. It's not about the money, I don't care about being the highest paid QB. But I want most of my contract guaranteed.

This makes a lot of sense. The only thing I can see that would blow up in Kirk Cousins' face is if the Redskins allow him to test the waters of free agency, and he realizes that everybody else who wants him is willing to offer a mega deal with, relatively, the same guarantees that Washington was going to give him. Then, is it still about the security, or is it about the money?

I definitely see what Cousins is doing, and I don't blame him. You do want as much guarantee as you possibly can. If he signs another franchise tag at $34M next year, then he'll have made almost $80M in guaranteed money in three years. That dude is going to be Rockefeller by the time it's all said and done.