Washington Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan wants to sign quarterback Kirk Cousins to a long-term contract, according to NFL reporter Chris Wesseling. Cousins proved on the field this season that he can lead a team to the playoffs, as he took the Redskins back to the playoffs for this first time since 2012 with a record of 9-7.
"Well, (the franchise tag) is an option," said McCloughan at the Senior Bowl, via the NFL Network. "You'd rather get a long-term deal done, but we have a lot of options we're dealing with right now, and that's one of them."
The Redskins quarterback set single-season franchise records in 2015 with 4,166 passing yards and 34 total touchdowns. Cousins led the NFL in completion percentage, completing 69.8 percent of his passes, and developed into a dual-threat near the goal-line with five rushing touchdowns. The Redskins quarterback picked up his play down the stretch of the season playing his best football in December.
The Redskins clearly improved on the field this season, and will look to push forward with the players they have and acquisitions through the 2016 NFL Draft, as McCloughan said the organization doesn't plan to make big moves in free agency, according to NFL reporter Marc Sessler.
"I think we'll have a little bit of money, but it's going to be similar," said McCloughan, via NFL Network. "We're not going to be big players. I don't believe in that." The Redskins general manager added five players in his first season with the organization last year, and may look to add one or two key players this offseason but will need to fit the right mold.
"We need to add legit football guys that understand it's about the Redskins and it's not about themselves," said McCloughan, via the NFL Network. "You're going to come in here, this is what we're going to be. And you're going to be in or out, one or the other." The Redskins have avoided going after the big splash player in free agency recently, and it seems to be slowley paying off, as the organization looks to be building a strong foundation from the ground up.
