Redskins QB Colt McCoy Could Become Free Agent In 2019

Colt McCoy took over as the Redskins’ starting quarterback after Alex Smith suffered a gruesome leg injury last week, and while the veteran signal-caller is technically under contract through 2019, he’s on pace to become a free agent if he stays under center for the rest of the season. As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com explains, McCoy’s deal will void if he plays 30% of Washington’s offensive snaps, an easily attainable figure providing the McCoy stays healthy.

However, if McCoy does exercise his option to become a free agent, the Redskins have the right to buy back the 2019 season while giving McCoy a raise. The details of that raise aren’t exactly clear, but Rapoport says it would be worth anywhere from $750K to $4MM, depending on how McCoy performs for the rest of the year.

Rapoport does pass along one example for reference: if McCoy starts the rest of the season and plays in two playoff games, he’d be entitled to a $2MM buyback, a figure that would be fully guaranteed. So instead of earning a $3.5MM and $2MM guaranteed (which is what his contract currently calls for), McCoy could collect $5.5MM in total and $4MM guaranteed.

Whether the Redskins have interest in using their buyback clause will likely rest on two factors: how well McCoy plays, and their optimism regarding Smith’s health. Per Rapoport, Washington would have been comfortable deploying McCoy as its starter this season had it not been able to acquire Smith from the Chiefs, so the club clearly has confidence in the 32-year-old. As far as Smith goes, the Redskins are optimistic that he’ll be ready for the 2019 campaign, but his recovery timeline is uncertain.

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