Cousins has arrived

[mooby]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Yeah just something interesting to think about. I think there's no way it gets to that stage, I think Cousins really wants to be here and McCloughan and Gruden really want him here.

Cousins just wants to make sure that he feels 'wanted' by the Redskins, so he'll be looking for a serious opening offer ($12M a year will not convey 'wanted'). If he gets it, the negotiation will go quick. He really doesn't strike me as the type to haggle over an extra $1M and be willing to push the negotiations to hardball phase to get it.

I think they strike a deal well before we get to the franchise tag decision.

I think 15m a year will be a solid starting point. I don't expect him to get 20m a year but perhaps they split the difference and he winds up around 17m a year. For me a similar deal would be Kaep's. If we could give him a contract that gives him relative long term security but also gives us an out if last year turned out to be a one year deal that would be fine with me.

[Schneed10]

Here's average annual value of contracts for QBs who are not currently on their rookie deals. I'm also excluding bum starting QBs like Matt Cassell, and backups, so you can get a feel for the market.

Aaron Rodgers $22,000,000
Russell Wilson $21,900,000
Ben Roethlisberger $21,850,000
Eli Manning $21,000,000
Philip Rivers $20,812,500
Cam Newton $20,760,000
Matt Ryan $20,750,000
Joe Flacco $20,100,000
Drew Brees $20,000,000
Ryan Tannehill $19,250,000
Colin Kaepernick $19,000,000
Jay Cutler $18,100,000
Tony Romo $18,000,000
Matt Stafford $17,666,667
Alex Smith $17,000,000
Peyton Manning $17,000,000
Carson Palmer $16,500,000
Andy Dalton $16,000,000
Sam Bradford $13,000,000
Nick Foles $12,250,000
Tom Brady $9,000,000

First thing that jumps out is that Brady took a huge hometown discount. Easy to do that when your wife is a mega millionaire SuperModel. Some life, huh.

So Brady really needs to be excluded from the analysis.

It's also important to consider when each of these deals were signed. Wilson was very recent, which partially explains why he's so expensive. Meanwhile Peyton's deal was executed back before the 2012 season, so if you want to estimate what that deal would look like now, it'd be a bit more.

Then you play the overpaid/underpaid game in your mind. Eli, Flacco, Ryan, Tannehill and Rivers feel a little overpaid to me. Brady, Palmer and Dalton (given this past season), look a little underpaid.

So you think about where Cousins should go and you could say you have a hard time seeing why he deserves to get more than Brees or Cam Newton at the $20M mark. But you say does he deserve every bit of what Alex Smith and Matt Stafford are getting at the $17M mark? Probably.

McCloughan can argue that Cousins only has one year under his belt so this represents a risk for the Redskins, and push for $17M. I don't think Cousins will haggle to get up to $18M or $19M.

I think they get it done well before tag time.

[Schneed10]

And if Cousins does haggle for $18M, I don't think McCloughan would balk. This is definitely going to be a conciliatory negotiation.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

And if Cousins does haggle for $18M, I don't think McCloughan would balk. This is definitely going to be a conciliatory negotiation.

Looking at your list, seems like 17-18 milllion should certainly satisfy Kirk's desire to feel wanted, and also give the Skins a reasonably clear salary cap going forward.

Can I re-iterate just how very glad i am that the new CBA got rid of the enormous 1st contract issues.

[sdskinsfan2001]

Take the picks and roll with Colt McCoy as the starter, surely I jest, pay the man. We had 2 picks in the top 5 in 1 year before and didn't win anything. We need a QB and we have one. He isn't leaving. So if you're not on board you better get on board. This coming from a guy that wanted RG3 to start as late as a few games into the season.

[That Guy]

if alex smith is getting 17m, you probably cant offer kirk 15. if you're not sure he's real, guarantee the first 2 years fully or something.

as far as how contentious the negotiations are, that depends entirely on his agent and their relationship. one would hope it's no big deal, but until he's signed, you never know.

[KI Skins Fan]

Schneed, thanks for posting the QB salaries and commenting on where Kirk fits among them. I found it very informative.

As you pointed out, $17-18MM per season feels like the range where this deal gets done. He might get a little more but, as ethat pointed out, if he does it's not going to kill our salary cap number.

I think Kirk is probably craving respect as an NFL QB. With that in mind, I think it might be meaningful to him if his contract exceeds, even if by only a little, the $16.5MM the Skins threw away on RGIII's contract this past season. That's just human nature.

Whenever I think of an NFL QB who compares to Kirk, I think first of Alex Smith. IMO, Kirk is a more accurate passer than Smith but Smith is a better athlete and more experienced than Kirk. I think it's close between the two of them.

Whenever I think of what Kirk can become as an NFL QB, I think of Andy Dalton. Perhaps it's just the association with Jay Gruden that causes me to think that way, but that's what I envision for Kirk.

[SCRedskinsFan]

Originally Posted by KI Skins Fan

Schneed, thanks for posting the QB salaries and commenting on where Kirk fits among them. I found it very informative.

As you pointed out, $17-18MM per season feels like the range where this deal gets done. He might get a little more but, as ethat pointed out, if he does it's not going to kill our salary cap number.

I think Kirk is probably craving respect as an NFL QB. With that in mind, I think it might be meaningful to him if his contract exceeds, even if by only a little, the $16.5MM the Skins threw away on RGIII's contract this past season. That's just human nature.

Whenever I think of an NFL QB who compares to Kirk, I think first of Alex Smith. IMO, Kirk is a more accurate passer than Smith but Smith is a better athlete and more experienced than Kirk. I think it's close between the two of them.

Whenever I think of what Kirk can become as an NFL QB, I think of Andy Dalton. Perhaps it's just the association with Jay Gruden that causes me to think that way, but that's what I envision for Kirk.

Just a reminder: the Skins did not, in fact, "throw away" 16.5 million on RG3 this year. This was his last year on the rookie contract... Just sayin.

[Schneed10]

Smith is super conservative while Kirk likes to go downfield more when he has the time in the pocket. I like the Dalton comparison. Neither have the biggest arm but are good at getting the ball out on time, and can go downfield accurately when time allows.

It's not 'just Snyder's money', as I believe in managing the cap closely to give yourself a leg up on the competition. But you don't risk letting this negotiation get to a contentious stage over $500K in cap room. I agree, you just get it done.

Also it was mentioned, but locking a guy in for longer term means the contract will age, and you benefit on the back end of the deal by having a guy whose contract isn't appreciating while the market soars for others. Of course, the risk is you commit for too long to a guy who could bust out, you never know.

4 years $70 million, with a mutual option for a 5th year at $20M. That's how I'm calling it.

[Alvin Walton]

Cant wait till next October.
I'm going to start a "Cousins has settled in" thread.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Alvin Walton

Cant wait till next October.
I'm going to start a "Cousins has settled in" thread.

I wait on bated breath for everything you do.

[Alvin Walton]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I wait on bated breath for everything you do.

Awesome!
Friend me on Facebook!

[over the mountain]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...ck-progressed/

^^ another really good film breakdown from wapo mark bullock. while he picks select samples, it shows cousins progressing as the season went on in terms of mechanics, not staring down receivers and calling audibles and complete plays from the LOS.

these type of film breakdown articles are really good imo. a real nice new addition for the following fan.

[Brody81]

http://youtu.be/mYLtHzaCBzI

It was a fun year!!


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[punch it in]

Originally Posted by Brody81

http://youtu.be/mYLtHzaCBzI

It was a fun year!!


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FU Skip Bayless. "And i was like go Dallas go!" Hahaha.