Quarterback Kirk Cousins has signed his 2016 franchise player tender with the Redskins.
Mike McCartney, Cousins’ agent, shared that news Wednesday night. The Redskins franchised Cousins ahead of Tuesday’s deadline to do so.
Cousins signing his tender means he’s guaranteed his 2016 salary of $19.95 million from the Redskins if the sides don’t reach an agreement on a long-term contract and can’t entertain an offer sheet from another team. It also gives him leverage as those negotiations go forward, assuming they do, because he’s making almost $20 million and can communicate through McCartney that he’d like to see the Redskins at least get close to that number.
Maybe Cousins was just excited to see that number on paper, or maybe he wanted to ensure that the Redskins didn’t eventually pull the franchise tag. But Cousins is now locked in through at least this season, and he and the Redskins have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal.