Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson and Pittsburgh Steelers’ running back Le'Veon Bell failed to strike new contracts with their respective squads as the deadline for franchise-tagged players expired Monday. With the development, Cousins will become the first quarterback in NFL history to play under the franchise tag for the second straight season. He will earn $23.9 million under the tag after making $19.9 million via the tag last season.
The story so far
According to NFL Network Insider, Ian Rapoport, the Redskins extended Cousins a five-year extension in May but below the expected amount of $110 million, which the quarterback rejected.
If the Redskins tag Cousins for the third straight time, the move will cost them $35 million. Washington can use the transition tag worth $28.7 million, but other teams can extend offers that the Redskins can’t match. The Cleveland Browns were also reported to be interested in Trubisky as No. 1 overall pick but eventually picked Myles Garrett.
Before the Draft, it was reported that the San Francisco 49ers were interested in trading the No. 2 pick to the Redskins for Cousins. However, the Redskins opted to keep the quarterback while the 49ers swapped picks with the Chicago Bears, who took signal-caller Mitch Trubisky as the second overall pick. Cousins tossed threw for 4,917 yards and 25 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.
In his five seasons with the Redskins, he tallied 12,113 yards in five seasons, good for sixth on the franchise's all-time passing list,
Rams didn’t offer Johnson an extension
The Rams, for their part, did not offer the 27-year-old Johnson a contract extension. The Rams tried to trade Johnson as they remain unconvinced that he’s ideal for defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ defensive scheme.
Johnson will make $16.7 million under the tag after earning $13.9 million last season.
Steelers did not sign Le’Veon Bell to long-term deal
In a statement, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert announced that the team failed to reach a long-term deal with Bell. With the development, Bell will play 2017 under the $12.1 million franchise tag.
Bell is scheduled to become a free agent next year, but the Steelers have the chance to use the franchise tag on him for a second straight season. Rapoport reported that the Steelers offered Bell a "very lucrative, good-faith offer" deal that will pay him $12 million per season. However, the issue with the new deal was the amount of guaranteed money.
