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Kirk Cousins, Redskins both content with franchise tag for 2017 campaign

By Ian Cummings

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 30: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins passes the ball during the NFL International Series Game between Washington Redskins and Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley Stadium on October 30, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 30: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins passes the ball during the NFL International Series Game between Washington Redskins and Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley Stadium on October 30, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) /
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Getting popcorn ready for the contract deadline? Not so fast. It appears we won’t see any fireworks between Kirk Cousins and the Redskins, after all.

In a development that is disproportional to the buildup surrounding the contract deadline, it looks as if Kirk Cousins and the Redskins are both content on seeing Cousins play the 2017 season under the franchise tag. Ian Rapoport first reported the news.

It’s a momentous realization, and yet, it isn’t all too surprising. The Redskins have made almost no progress in negotiations with Kirk Cousins this offseason. Even despite the kind words passed between the two sides, there is too much ground to cover for either side to come to a compromise.

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So what happens now? Well, Cousins will almost certainly play the 2017 campaign on the franchise tag, barring a shocking move ahead of the deadline. The new date for ultimate contract chaos will now be the start of the negotiation period next offseason.

A contract offer from the Redskins is now contingent on Cousins’ play in 2017. If he performs at the level he has the past two years, but fails to win games consistently, he will likely suit up for a different team in 2018. Only wins, or out-of-this-world stats could now convince the Redskins that Kirk Cousins is worth the money he’s demanding.

So there will be no deal in 2017. Is a deal in 2018 far-fetched? It’s hard to say at this point in time. There’s certainly a lot of ground to cover. And there are reports and rumors swirling that Cousins doesn’t even want to be in Washington.

Next: The ESPYs spare the Redskins in 2017

To know what’s really going on, and to know where Cousins and the Redskins are headed in the future, it appears we’ll have to wait yet another year.

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