Cousins 3.0, he's going to sign the franchise tag

[Schneed10]

Cousins wants to be wanted. He wants an organization to commit to him, fully. Show him he's their guy.

The team is taking slow steps in that direction, but airing the May 2 contract details publicly is an obvious attempt to show the public that the team does want him and make Cousins look bad for turning it down.

That doesn't show that you are fully committed to him, that provokes resentment.

Allen is failing to recognize the immense leverage Cousins has, which is the direct result of kicking the can down the road and franchising him twice in a row. You can't offer the same guaranteed money Cousins would make in 2017 and 2018 under tags, and expect him to trade that for 6 years of being under the Redskins' control. It doesn't show you want Cousins, it doesn't show you're fully committed.

Reports say he's open to an extension next year. Maybe he is. But I don't expect his stance to change: I want an offer that recognizes my worth, demonstrating that the team is fully committed. I want to be wanted.

Next year he'll have even more leverage, and his opportunity cost will be even higher. It will take an even higher offer to demonstrate that he's wanted.

So I believe Cousins when he says it's not about money. I believe him when he says it's about being wanted. Nothing the Redskins have done over the past few years says: Kirk, we believe in you.

If they change that tune in February, and give him a huge deal commensurate with his leverage, then it will convey that he's wanted and he'll sign. If they don't, John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan will. And Bruce Allen will have kicked the can down the road and out of town.