Latest On Kirk Cousins, Redskins
With roughly three weeks until the extension deadline, the assumption is that Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins will play out the 2016 season on his $19.95MM franchise tender, sources from both sides tell Albert Breer of The MMQB. While talks are “amicable” between both sides, Breer hears that they are basically going nowhere. 
[RELATED: Redskins Won’t Extend Chris Baker This Summer]
Cousins’ reps are negotiating on the premise that Cousins can earn roughly $44MM over the next two years if he is tagged for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. The Redskins, meanwhile, are reluctant to meet those numbers in the first two years of a contract (and, presumably, reflect those salaries beyond 2017) since they want to see Cousins prove himself all over again. As Breer notes, the Redskins may be playing a dangerous game with their QB. If, as expected, Andrew Luck signs a record-breaking extension and Cousins turns in another strong year, then their quarterback’s asking price will skyrocket.
Another factor to consider is the impact of the Josh Norman signing on the Redskins’ salary cap. The cornerback’s massive deal will carry a $20MM cap hit in 2017. Therefore, if Washington were to exercise the franchise tag on Cousins next season at $24MM, more than 25% of its cap space would be dedicated to two players, and that’s a pie chart that no NFL team wants to be facing.
Cousins, 27, became Washington’s full-time starting quarterback for the first time last season, earning 16 of his 25 career starts in 2015. The four-year veteran finished the regular season on a tear, completing 74% of his passes for nearly 1,200 yards, 12 touchdowns, and a 134.0 quarterback rating over the final four weeks of the year.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Redskins Notes: Hatcher, Knighton, Cofield
- Many expected the Redskins to make a significant splash on the defensive line this offseason but that didn’t materialize as the team applied its resources elsewhere. Now, as the Redskins enter 2016 without vets Jason Hatcher and Terrance Knighton, the team is banking on consistency from its returning D-linemen, Master Tesfatsion of The Washington Post writes.
- Left tackle Takoby Cofield finds himself on the Redskins‘ roster bubble and Rich Tandler of CSNMidAtlantic.com writes that he could be ready to challenge for a spot on the active roster. Cofield joined the Redskins as a UDFA in 2015 and spent the year on the taxi squad.
Redskins Won’t Extend Chris Baker
Kirk Cousins isn’t just the Redskins’ top priority when it comes to extensions this offseason – he’s the only player they’re interested in extending, according to ESPN.com’s John Keim (video link). That means that a handful of notable veterans, including defensive lineman Chris Baker, will be playing out their contracts in 2016. 
Recently, Baker indicated that he would like to sign an extension with the Redskins, though he hasn’t discussed a new deal with the team at all this year. However, after taking care of tight end Jordan Reed with a massive five-year, ~$48MM deal, Washington seems to only want to address their quarterback while addressing every other pending free agent after the 2016 season. Baker, 28, is coming off a breakout season in which he amassed career highs in appearances (16, to go with 11 starts), tackles (53), sacks (six) and forced fumbles (three). Thanks to his output in 2015, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Baker a solid 22nd out of 83 qualifying interior defenders.
If Baker offers a repeat performance of his 2015 season, he’ll be in line for a significant pay raise in March. Currently, Baker stands as one of the league’s best values as he plays out the three year, $9MM contract extension he inked with the Redskins in February 2014. Baker’s back-loaded contract calls for him to count for $4.275MM against the cap in the coming year. This year, Baker is slated to start at left end and he hopes that he won’t have to play much on the interior line.
“I’ve solidified myself as a good left end,” Baker said in April. “So I’d like to stay at my position and use my athleticism to make plays. I’m willing to do what it takes to make sure the team wins, but hopefully they leave me at left end and use the other noses we have or some of the younger guys we’re going to draft.”
Meanwhile, echoing previous reports, Keim says that the Redskins also will not pursue extensions for wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon. With first-round pick Josh Doctson in the mix, it seems unlikely that both players will be back for 2017 and it’s also possible that neither player will remain in the nation’s capital.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Junior Galette On Track For Training Camp
- After tearing his Achilles last August and missing the entire 2015 season, Redskins linebacker Junior Galette is on track to return for the start of training camp. “I’m definitely going to be out there with them. I just can’t overcompensate like I did last year,” Galette told Mike Jones of the Washington Post, implying that he came back too soon from a torn pectoral muscle and set himself up for the Achilles injury. Galette, a double-digit-sack defender for the Saints in both 2013 and ’14, re-signed with the Redskins on an inexpensive one-year deal during the winter.
Scot McCloughan's First 17 Months On Job Have Been Successful
- Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan has only held his position for 17 months, but the executive has already done an admirable job of turning around the organization. As Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports writes, the offseason acquisition of Josh Norman was McCloughan’s biggest move yet, and the GM is confident that the signing will ultimately prove to be worth it.
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Scot McCloughan On Josh Norman
- The Redskins paid a hefty price to sign Josh Norman and, so far, GM Scot McCloughan says he’s happy with the investment. “To see the pro he has become is incredible,” McCloughan told Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports. “To be an All Pro is unique. It doesn’t happen very often. If he is who I think he is, seeing him out here on the practice field and talking to him face to face, he’s a quality person and a really good football player. That’s huge. That’s what you want to surround yourself with. When I walk in here every morning, I want a football team, not just a football player. We’re going to win as a team, not just as a player.”
- Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins is reportedly content to play this season under the $19.95MM franchise tag if he and the club don’t reach a long-term agreement by the July 15 deadline.
Kirk Cousins Content To Play '16 Under Franchise Tag
- Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins is content to play this season under the $19.95MM franchise tag if he and the club don’t reach a long-term agreement by the July 15 deadline, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. One reason the 27-year-old is fine with operating under the tag is because he knows his price will continue rising if the Redskins franchise him again next offseason, relays Florio. Indeed, it would cost Washington $23.94MM to tag Cousins in 2017 and $34.47MM to do the same in 2018.
New Starters For Redskins
- Cornerback Josh Norman figures to be one of at least eight new starters for the Redskins in 2016, though only Norman and safety David Bruton are new to the team, Rich Tandler of RealRedskins.com writes. Bruton, however, is not guaranteed to start at strong safety and he will probably compete with Duke Ihenacho who missed most of the 2015 season. They’ll look to fill the hole left by Trenton Robinson, who started seven games at strong safety in 2015 but is no longer with the team.
Kirk Cousins Says There's Been No Progress On Extension
- Kirk Cousins said there’s been no progress on an extension with the Redskins, tweets Tarik El-Bashir of CSN MidAtlantic. With about a month left to come to an agreement, the signal-caller told writers to “stay tuned.”
- Former Redskins fullback Darrel Young will be participating in the Bears minicamp, tweets Mike Jones of The Washington Post. The six-year veteran has 13 career touchdowns, and the 29-year-old has never missed more than three games in a season.
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Chris Baker Hopes To Stay With Redskins
- Redskins defensive lineman Chris Baker is entering a contract year and would like to sign an extension, but he told JP Finlay of CSN Mid-Atlantic that he hasn’t discussed a new deal with the team. “If you go out and you’re producing, they’re gonna keep me,” he said. As Finlay notes, with quarterback Kirk Cousins also going into a contract year and tight end Jordan Reed having signed a mega-deal last month, Baker could end up out of the Redskins’ price range. The 28-year-old is coming off a breakout season in which he amassed career highs in appearances (16, to go with 11 starts), tackles (53), sacks (six) and forced fumbles (three). Thanks to his output in 2015, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Baker a solid 22nd out of 83 qualifying interior defenders.