The Washington Redskins pulled off one of the most surprising trades in the 2018 offseason, acquiring veteran quarterback Alex Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs for a 2018 third-round pick and cornerback Kendall Fuller. In Smith, the Redskins got a better and cheaper alternative to Kirk Cousins, who received the franchise tag twice, earning $23.94 million last season. The Redskins had the option of signing Cousins to a long-term deal or tag him for a third time at $34 million in 2018. Rather than sign Cousins to a huge long-term, the Redskins opted to let him go and take in Smith, who immediately signed a four-year, $94 million extension with $71 million in guaranteed money, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network Insider.
Now, Cousins will have a chance to earn his big contract with another team. Adam Schefter of ESPN said four quarterback-needy teams could make a run at Cousins, who will turn unrestricted free agent this offseason. “He’ll have plenty of suitors, but four teams stand out,” said Schefter. Rapoport, for his part, said that the Denver Broncos could be one of the teams that could pursue the 29-year-old Cousins, who has thrown for at least 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in three straight seasons.
Broncos ideal landing spot for Cousins
The Broncos were one of the favorites this season, but they failed to make the playoffs due to the inconsistent plays of Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler, and Paxton Lynch.
Chris Wesseling of NFL.com said Cousins, after making $40 million in the past two years, could choose to prioritize stability rather than a huge contract, making the Broncos an ideal destination for him. Several Broncos players, including All-Pro linebacker Von Miller, expressed interest in playing with Cousins.
Bills, Browns, Cardinals also interested
Rapoport said the Buffalo Bills could also pursue Cousins to address their quarterback needs. They could pursue Cousins to get an upgrade on Tyrod Taylor, who has been benched several times this season due to his inconsistent plays. The Cleveland Browns could also join the race for Cousins after failing to get Smith from the Chiefs.
However, it’s unclear if Cousins would join the Browns, who finished the regular-season with a 0-16 mark.
Wesseling noted that the Arizona Cardinals could take a look at Cousins after the retirement of veteran Carson Palmer. The retirement of Palmer has left the Cardinals without a quarterback under contract, and they could take a shot at signing Cousins if the opportunity arises. The New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, and Jacksonville Jaguars, who are all facing quarterback uncertainties, could also pursue Cousins.
