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  4. title => "Don't count out a third straight franchise tag for Kirk Cousins, and here's why"
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  6. article_body => "<p>For the second straight season the Redskins placed the franchise tag on Kirk Cousins. While the two sides are speaking amicably about a long-term deal, the July 15 deadline for those negotiations continues to inch closer without much expectation that contract will get signed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A second year on the tag is unprecedented for a quarterback. In 2016, Cousins made nearly $20 million playing on the tag. In 2017, that figure goes up to $24.<\/p>\n<p>If the Redskins don't get a deal done with Cousins, many think the organization would not again go with the franchise tag because the price tag jumps to an exorbitant $34 million.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Think again.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Asked on Monday if another&nbsp;franchise tag would be an option for Cousins in 2018, Redskins team president Bruce Allen was clear.<\/p>\n<p>\"Yes,\" he said.&nbsp;\"In the collective bargaining agreement, we really have one year and an option that we can do at the end of next season if we don\u2019t get a contract.\"<\/p>\n<p>Those options include the exclusive franchise tag, the non-exclusive franchise tag and the transition tag. Both franchise tags carry the same cost, but the non-exclusive allows Cousins' representatives to shop his services around the NFL. If a deal gets struck, and the Redskins don't match the contract, Washington is due two first-round draft picks as compensation for losing their franchise player.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The transition tag carries a $28 million price tag, and the Redskins can match another contract but risk only receiving a possible 2019 third-round compensatory pick if Cousins walks.<\/p>\n<p>Considering those options, another year on the non-exclusive tag might make sense. The NFL salary cap will be at least $168 million, which means Cousins at $34 million would account for about 20 percent of the Redskins' salary cap.<\/p>\n<p>That's a crazy allotment for one player. Crazy. The Redskins do have about $54 million in cap space for 2018, so technically, another franchise tag could work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But the entire manner of the contract dealings with Cousins and the Redskins has been quite unconventional. The Redskins have already made history by franchising Cousins a second straight year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\"I think even Kirk said it, there\u2019s a lot of players round the league who are on a one-year deal. It\u2019s the nature of it, we\u2019d like to get him a long-term deal and I think he should want to get one,\" Allen said. \"Kirk\u2019s played well on a one-year contract the last two seasons.\"<\/p>\n<p>At this point, it doesn't require a degree in advanced mathematics to understand that the&nbsp;Redskins and Cousins have a different picture of the quarterback's long-term value. That could change by July 15, it could, but it doesn't seem likely. The Cousins camp has little incentive to bend, as $24 million fully guaranteed for 2017 represents a great payday.<\/p>\n<p>And maybe the Redskins don't plan on bending because the option of a third straight franchise tag doesn't worry them. Or at least the option of letting Cousins shop his services on a non-exclusive tag, and then making a decision to match a deal or receive compensation seems a worthwhile endevaor.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For Cousins, he's not counting out any possibility.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\"People, I\u2019ve heard say, \u2018There\u2019s no chance they franchise tag him or even transition tag him the following season,\u2019 and I chuckle because if the team has franchise tagged me for two years in a row,\"<a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnmidatlantic.com\/washington-redskins\/one-recurring-theme-kirk-cousins-camp-market-value\"> Cousins said to an ESPN podcast<\/a> in March.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnmidatlantic.com\/washington-redskins\/2017-nfl-power-rankings-who-got-better-after-draft\">&lt;&lt;&lt;NFL POWER RANKINGS: WHO GOT BETTER AFTER THE DRAFT&gt;&gt;&gt;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more Redskins? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/JPFinlayCSN\/\">Click here to follow JP on Facebook<\/a> and check out&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/jpfinlaycsn\">@JPFinlayCSN<\/a>&nbsp;for live updates via Twitter!&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/redskins-talk\/id1151988852?mt=2\">Click here for the #RedskinsTalk on Apple Podcasts<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Iygppa4jqsc74swaa7q7vfdc3ym?t=Redskins_Talk\">here for Google Play<\/a> or press play below. Don't forget to subscribe!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>ROSTER BATTLES<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnmidatlantic.com\/washington-redskins\/redskins-2017-roster-battles-o-line-mostly-set-could-competition-emerge-left\">Left guard<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnmidatlantic.com\/washington-redskins\/redskins-2017-roster-battles-tight-end-questions-behind-jordan-reed-vernon-davis\">Tight end&nbsp;<\/a>|&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnmidatlantic.com\/washington-redskins\/redskins-2017-roster-battles-which-cornerback-will-cover-slot\">Nickel cornerback&nbsp;<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnmidatlantic.com\/washington-redskins\/redskins-2017-roster-battle-addition-zach-brown-increased-competition-linebacker\">Inside linebacker<\/a>&nbsp;| <a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnmidatlantic.com\/washington-redskins\/redskins-2017-roster-battles-how-will-kelley-and-perine-share-carries\">Running back<\/a><\/p>\n<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"300\" style=\"background-color:transparent; display:block; max-width: 700px;\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"allowtransparency\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"\/\/embeds.audioboom.com\/posts\/5929934-episode-67-playing-the-percentages\/embed\/v4?eid=AQAAAFISHVnOe1oA\" title=\"audioBoom player\"><\/iframe> \n"
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Redskins

Redskins

For the second straight season the Redskins placed the franchise tag on Kirk Cousins. While the two sides are speaking amicably about a long-term deal, the July 15 deadline for those negotiations continues to inch closer without much expectation that contract will get signed. 

A second year on the tag is unprecedented for a quarterback. In 2016, Cousins made nearly $20 million playing on the tag. In 2017, that figure goes up to $24.

If the Redskins don't get a deal done with Cousins, many think the organization would not again go with the franchise tag because the price tag jumps to an exorbitant $34 million. 

Think again. 

Asked on Monday if another franchise tag would be an option for Cousins in 2018, Redskins team president Bruce Allen was clear.

"Yes," he said. "In the collective bargaining agreement, we really have one year and an option that we can do at the end of next season if we don’t get a contract."

Those options include the exclusive franchise tag, the non-exclusive franchise tag and the transition tag. Both franchise tags carry the same cost, but the non-exclusive allows Cousins' representatives to shop his services around the NFL. If a deal gets struck, and the Redskins don't match the contract, Washington is due two first-round draft picks as compensation for losing their franchise player. 

The transition tag carries a $28 million price tag, and the Redskins can match another contract but risk only receiving a possible 2019 third-round compensatory pick if Cousins walks.

 

Considering those options, another year on the non-exclusive tag might make sense. The NFL salary cap will be at least $168 million, which means Cousins at $34 million would account for about 20 percent of the Redskins' salary cap.

That's a crazy allotment for one player. Crazy. The Redskins do have about $54 million in cap space for 2018, so technically, another franchise tag could work. 

But the entire manner of the contract dealings with Cousins and the Redskins has been quite unconventional. The Redskins have already made history by franchising Cousins a second straight year. 

"I think even Kirk said it, there’s a lot of players round the league who are on a one-year deal. It’s the nature of it, we’d like to get him a long-term deal and I think he should want to get one," Allen said. "Kirk’s played well on a one-year contract the last two seasons."

At this point, it doesn't require a degree in advanced mathematics to understand that the Redskins and Cousins have a different picture of the quarterback's long-term value. That could change by July 15, it could, but it doesn't seem likely. The Cousins camp has little incentive to bend, as $24 million fully guaranteed for 2017 represents a great payday.

And maybe the Redskins don't plan on bending because the option of a third straight franchise tag doesn't worry them. Or at least the option of letting Cousins shop his services on a non-exclusive tag, and then making a decision to match a deal or receive compensation seems a worthwhile endevaor. 

For Cousins, he's not counting out any possibility. 

"People, I’ve heard say, ‘There’s no chance they franchise tag him or even transition tag him the following season,’ and I chuckle because if the team has franchise tagged me for two years in a row," Cousins said to an ESPN podcast in March. 

<<<NFL POWER RANKINGS: WHO GOT BETTER AFTER THE DRAFT>>>

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ROSTER BATTLES: Left guard | Tight end | Nickel cornerback  | Inside linebacker | Running back