Kirk Cousins Appreciates The Matt Cavanaugh Promotion
Earlier this week, the Redskins promoted Matt Cavanaugh from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator. Despite Kirk Cousins‘ questionable future with the team, the quarterback was happy that the organization valued continuity on the coaching staff.
“I love the fact that we’re not starting over,” Cousins said (via Jake Kring-Schreifels of Redskins.com). “We’ve learned a certain way of doing things for a couple of years now and with Coach Cav as the coordinator, we’ll be able to keep that rolling, as opposed to having to start all over with a brand new system and terminology and philosophy.”
Cavanaugh had served as the Redskins quarterbacks coach since 2015, and he played an important role in helping Cousins’ production over the past two seasons.
Kyle Shanahan Once Tried To Trade For Kirk Cousins
- Soon-to-be 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan tried to trade for Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins while he was Cleveland’s offensive coordinator in 2014, and also favored Cousins over Robert Griffin III when the trio was in Washington, according to Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com. With Shanahan likely headed to San Francisco, he could theoretically pursue Cousins if the price is right (and Washington is willing to let him go).
Redskins Want Long-Term Kirk Cousins Deal
Multiple teams are set to take a run at quarterback Kirk Cousins if he becomes available as a trade chip or free agent this offseason, but Washington has other plans. The Redskins are aiming to lock up Cousins for the foreseeable future, team president Bruce Allen indicated Wednesday (via Mike Jones of the Washington Post).
“The goal is to get long-term,” said Allen, who added that Cousins “knows our intent.”
The Redskins haven’t begun negotiations with Cousins, but they’ll get underway “shortly,” per Allen. Having posted back-to-back terrific seasons, including a 4,917-yard, 25-touchdown, 12-interception showing in 2016, Cousins is unsurprisingly looking to become one of the NFL’s highest-paid signal-callers on a long-term pact.
Cousins played this season under the $19.95MM franchise tag, and the Redskins could again tag the 28-year-old by March 1 if they’re unable to work out a deal. However, Cousins’ salary would increase to a guaranteed $23.94MM if he were to play under the tag next season, and it would rise to a sky-high $34.45MM in 2018 in the same scenario. It’s unlikely Washington would tag Cousins at that number, according to John Keim of ESPN.com, meaning he could only have one more year left in D.C. The Redskins seem to have more incentive to reach a multiyear deal than Cousins, who’s in the catbird seat and may have more leverage than any other player in the league.
Cousins stated Thursday that “it’d be great” to stay a Redskin, though he cautioned that it would have to be “under the right set of circumstances” (Twitter link via Master Tesfatsion of the Post). Previously, Cousins said Wednesday that while he’d “love to build something in Washington, we’ll see if the decision-makers let that happen” (per Dave Richard of CBSSports.com).
Between Allen’s words and head coach Jay Gruden‘s confidence that Cousins will continue in Washington, the club’s decision-makers are publicly making it clear that they want the five-year veteran in the fold for the long haul. Of course, that doesn’t mean private negotiations will go to either side’s liking.
Redskins Notes: Cousins, Gruden, Doctson
Although reports of a potential trade being on the table have surfaced in recent weeks, Jay Gruden expects Kirk Cousins to be back with the Redskins in 2017. “I totally anticipate him coming back to the Washington Redskins,” Gruden said, via JP Finlay of CSNMidAtlantic.com. Gruden said he’s texted back and forth with Cousins this offseason. Washington is in a similar situation with its starting quarterback compared to last year, although the franchise tag price will escalate to $23.94MM due to the team having used this on its passer in 2016. Cousins is thought to be targeting that $23.94MM threshold as an AAV goal, which would make him the third-highest-paid quarterback in the league on a per-year basis. Washington is projected to hold just more than $60MM in cap space — prior to any action on Cousins, of course.
Here’s more regarding the player who may soon become the Redskins’ franchise QB, along with more coming out of Washington.
- A scenario in which the Redskins use the tag and then trade Cousins would cost the 49ers — mentioned as one of the prospective suitors, especially if former Washington OC Kyle Shanahan takes the HC job as expected — more than the No. 2 overall pick, Mike Jones of the Washington Post writes. Considering the Redskins’ run of quarterbacks since their 1991 Super Bowl title, and even the team’s second and third Super Bowl championships came with second-tier veterans at quarterback, Jones argues Cousins is a known commodity compared to the alternative of attempting a reboot without such a passer. Regardless, if the team pursued that, Washington should be able to ask for a first-, a second-, and possibly a third-round pick, Jones writes.
- Gruden having to go with may his third or fourth choice in the form of Greg Manusky as DC puts his fate in Washington in the coordinator’s hands to a degree, Rich Tandler of CSNMidAtlantic.com notes. Tandler expects Gruden to be on the hot seat entering 2017 thanks to a seven-loss 2015 season being his high-water mark in three years. The OC behind Washington’s No. 3-ranked offense is now in Los Angeles, and Gruden will be counting on Manusky — who takes command of a 28th-ranked defense — and GM Scot McGloughan to provide defensive improvement and thus a long-term path for him in D.C. Cousins figures to factor into this equation, too.
- Josh Doctson has not progressed especially well in his recovery from the Achilles’ tendon injuries that hijacked his rookie season, Jones reports. Gruden said the wideout hasn’t received clearance to run without restrictions but added the team will take it slow with its 2016 first-rounder. Doctson should be needed this season, with the Redskins likely to lose at least one, and possibly both, of their veteran duo of Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson in free agency.
- Jordan Reed won’t need offseason shoulder surgery after seeing a separated shoulder sideline him late in the season, Gruden said (via Jones).
How Jets Could Have Traded For Kirk Cousins In 2015
The Jets’ decision to hire Todd Bowles as their head coach instead of Dan Quinn in 2015 may have cost them a chance to acquire then-backup quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Redskins, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Quinn’s offensive coordinator in Atlanta, Kyle Shanahan, would have come with him to New York but would not have wanted to work with Geno Smith, sources told Mehta. Shanahan would have pushed to acquire Cousins, whom he knew from their time together in Washington in 2012. A big Cousins fan, Shanahan was reportedly “integral” in the Redskins’ drafting of the ex-Michigan State signal-caller. Along with Shanahan, Quinn would have brought former Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik with him to work in the Jets’ front office. Dominik is close with Redskins president Bruce Allen, and their friendship could have further helped lead the way to a Cousins trade, writes Mehta.
Redskins To Shop Kirk Cousins?
With quarterback Kirk Cousins unsigned as free agency approaches, the Redskins are willing to weigh their options with the 28-year-old and could entertain trading him, a Washington source told Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). In addition to the previously reported 49ers, the Browns would likely chase Cousins if the Redskins were to shop him, according to Cole.
The 49ers would consider surrendering the No. 2 pick in the draft to land Cousins, per Cole, which jibes with what ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote Friday. Plus, with Kyle Shanahan set to take over as San Francisco’s head coach, the team would have an obvious connection to Cousins. Shanahan was the offensive coordinator in Washington during Cousins’ rookie year, 2012. Cousins only attempted 48 passes that season as the backup to then-rookie sensation and now-Brown Robert Griffin III, but he might have ended up in a different organization if not for Shanahan. The Redskins used a fourth-round pick to select Cousins, and Shanahan was “integral” in making that happen, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Conor Orr of NFL.com).
Whether via the $23.94MM franchise tag or a long-term deal, Cousins will come at a high price tag next season. That wouldn’t pose a problem for the 49ers’ cap situation, as they currently have upward of $81MM in room as March nears. It would be even less of an issue for Cleveland, the only team with more spending space than the Niners. While the Browns will lose a large chunk of that $108MM-plus when linebacker Jamie Collins‘ mega-extension becomes official, they’ll still easily pace the NFL in available money.
In joining the Browns, who possess the first and 12th picks in this year’s draft, Cousins would head to a team with an offensive system akin to the Redskins’. Browns head coach Hue Jackson and the Redskins’ Jay Gruden were both offensive coordinators in Cincinnati before taking on their current roles and share similar philosophies.
Cleveland, which is coming off a one-win showing in Jackson’s first year at the helm, will have the opportunity to select any signal-caller it wants in the draft and is reportedly high on North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky and Clemson’s Deshaun Watson. Unlike Trubisky, Watson or any other draft-bound QB, Cousins has already emerged as a quality pro and represents a far more established passer than anyone in this year’s flawed class. While Cousins alone wouldn’t turn the Browns into contenders, perhaps he’d help them accelerate their rebuild and start inching toward relevance.
Redskins Promote Chad Englehart
- The Redskins have promoted Chad Englehart to head strength and conditioning coach, reports Jake Kring-Schreifels of Redskins.com. Englehart has served as the team’s assistant strength and conditioning coach over the past seven seasons. The organization hired Kavan Latham to fill Englehart’s previous role.
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Redskins Re-Sign LS Nick Sundberg
The Redskins re-signed longtime long snapper Nick Sundberg, the team announced, putting him in position to play into the next decade with the franchise. It’s a four-year deal running through 2020, Mike Jones of the Washington Post tweets. This marks Washington’s first re-signing of the offseason.
Serving as the Redskins’ primary long snapper since being acquired in 2010, Sundberg has played in 91 regular-season games with Washington. Sundberg’s previous deal paid him a career-high $1MM in base salary in 2016 and averaged $1MM annually. Considering Dolphins long snapper John Denney leads this anonymous group with with a $1.15MM-AAV contract, Sundberg’s next pact figures to be similar in value to his previous accord.
The 29-year-old specialist played in each of Washington’s 16 games in both 2014 and ’15 but missed two contests due to injury this season, inducing the Redskins to sign Rick Lovato as a free agent. Sundberg, though, returned to action soon after.
Redskins Promote Matt Cavanaugh To OC
Matt Cavanaugh will receive another chance to run an NFL offense after the Redskins made him their new offensive coordinator on Monday. He will rise from the quarterbacks coach position he occupied the past two seasons.
This continues Washington’s promote-from-within strategy regarding its coordinators, with outside linebackers coach Greg Manusky being elevated to DC after a lengthy search. Cavanaugh’s ascent didn’t come after an extensive pursuit like Manusky’s did, though. Ten different candidates were mentioned as being in the running for Washington’s DC, with several interviewing. No outside candidates surfaced in the running for the Redskins’ OC job, and Cavanaugh wasn’t linked to any other OC jobs.
The former Ravens and Bears’ OC has not served in this capacity since 2004. Cavanaugh, 60, will succeed 30-year-old Sean McVay as the top offensive assistant under Jay Gruden, who is still expected to call plays in Washington next season.
will fill Cavanaugh’s spot as QBs coach.
Cavanaugh has presided over Kirk Cousins‘ rise from backup to near-5,000-yard passer. This followed a stint as the QBs instructor for the Jets and Bears. The veteran assistant is mostly known for his work in Baltimore from 1999-2004. Although it resulted in Cavanaugh receiving a Super Bowl ring for the 2000 Ravens’ work, his offenses lagged well behind the dominant defenses of that era, eventually leading to his dismissal after five years under Brian Billick.
However, a close relationship with both Cousins and backup Colt McCoy will work in Cavanaugh’s favor
Redskins Hire Jim Tomsula As DL Coach
The Redskins have agreed to hire former 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula as defensive line coach, as Carol Maloney of NBC4 first reported (Twitter link). 
[RELATED: Redskins Promote Greg Manusky To DC]
Tomsula, of course, posted a disappointing 5-11 record during his one season as San Francisco’s head coach, and was out of the NFL entirely during the 2016 season. However, while Tomsula failed to match his predecessor Jim Harbaugh‘s track record as 49ers head coach, Tomsula had previously been a highly respected defensive line coach, serving in the role for the Niners from 2007-14.
During that time, Tomsula overlapped not only with Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan, but new Washington defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, whom the Redskins recently promoted to DC.
The Redskins weren’t the only club to express interest in Tomsula this offseason, as the Saints also interviewed him for their vacant defensive line coach position.