Kirk Cousins 24/7 thread

[KI Skins Fan]

Charley Casserly weighs in on market value for Kirk Cousins.

This from Jamie Oaks of 247sports.com:

Halfway through the 2016 season, it’s natural to start considering the big decision before the Washington Redskins as it relates to Kirk Cousins.

Playing on the franchise tag this season for $19.95 million, the Redskins have a big decision to make.

Let Cousins hit the open market, sign him longterm, or franchise him again at a staggering $24 million for 2017.

Former Redskins general manager and now NFL analyst Charley Casserly has chimed in on the subject.

“As a player today, to me, [Cousins is] Andy Dalton,” started Casserly on CSN Mid-Atlantic. “Good, solid quarterback but he’s not on the next level. He’s Andy Dalton.”

Dalton is currently playing out a six-year, $96 million deal, averaging $16 million per season, making the Cousins’ contract situation even more complex.

“I tell you what, you don’t want to lose him. So, you franchise him at 24 [million], now he has no incentive to sign, now he’s gambling on 35 [million if franchised for a third time] in the next year.

“My question is this, if he goes to free agency, I don’t see the Jets, the Browns, the Bears paying this guy north of $20 million, north of $50-60 [million] guaranteed.”

With Brock Osweiler earning $18 million a year, where does Cousins fit in?

“I think [Cousins] gets north of that number,” said Casserly when asked about Osweiler’s contract. “If this is the guy that finishes out, the way that he’s going, I don’t think you have a choice. You’re going to have to swallow it and pay him the money."

“I think that’s where the market’s going to be, the upper $19 [millions] to the low $20 [millions]. I think that’s where the market is going to be for him.”