Report: Kirk Cousins will get franchise tag

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It’s looking more and more like Kirk Cousins will remain a Redskin in 2016.

According to ESPN.com via Pro Football Talk, the Redskins plan to use the franchise tag on the free-agent quarterback.

According to an NFL.com estimate, the franchise-tag figure for quarterbacks in 2016 will be $19.6 million.

The Redskins also could use the transition tag on Cousins. That would cost less but also enable Cousins to receive offers from other teams that the Redskins would have the right to match.

Cousins threw 19 touchdown passes and two interceptions in the second half of the 2015 season. The Redskins went 6-2 in those eight games and won the NFC East with a 9-7 record. Cousins completed 69.8 percent of his passes for the season, tops among quarterbacks with 40 or more passes. His passer rating of 101.6 was fifth among quarterbacks with 43 or more attempts and his 4,166 passing yards were 10th in the league.

It was Cousins’ first full season as a starter, however, and instead of getting a long-term deal it appears he’ll have a one-year audition to follow up 2015 with another strong season and earn a long-term deal.

And he’ll be paid handsomely for that audition.

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