It has long been speculated that Kirk Cousins is destined to play quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. That can’t happen, however, if he continues playing for the Washington Redskins beyond this season.
Although both sides have failed to come to a long-term agreement, Cousins expressed to ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio that he hopes to play for the Redskins for the rest of his career.
“I would love to be . . . a Redskin the rest of my career,” Cousins said. “When you look at the best of the best, those quarterbacks played with one team. And if you point to a couple guys who didn’t, who changed teams, it really was against their will: I think if Joe Montana or Peyton Manning had their way they would have stayed where they had won Super Bowls and played so well.”
“My desire is to stay with one team my entire career, and that would be Washington.”
Cousins is set to play the upcoming season under the Redskins’ franchise tag for a second consecutive year. With both sides failing to negotiate an extension by the July 17 deadline, Cousins is set to hit free agency in 2018.
It’s widely expected that the 49ers will be interested in Cousins next offseason. Cousins and the 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan developed a relationship when Shanahan was the offensive coordinator with the Redskins during the first two seasons of Cousins’ career. Since Shanahan moved on from Washington, Cousins has proven himself to be a serviceable to good starting quarterback in the league, and many view him as the long term answer in Santa Clara.
Cousins will become the first quarterback in NFL history to play two straight seasons under the franchise tag, meaning that the Redskins clearly have been unwilling to meet what Cousins is asking for. Additionally, Redskins president Bruce Allen released a statement regarding how Cousins declined a large offer from the organization, a move that many viewed as Allen calling out Cousins.
Cousins says that he hopes to remain with Washington, but given the less than stable relationship the two sides appear to have, don’t expect the 49ers to give up on going after the Pro Bowler in 2018.