10 Players the 49ers Should Watch for 2018 NFL Free Agency
By Peter Panacy
No. 1: Quarterback Kirk Cousins
2017 Team: Washington Redskins
You knew this had to be on here.
So quarterback Kirk Cousins wanted out from the Washington Redskins, right? The only thing was that nasty franchise tag and the unwillingness from the Redskins camp to make a deal with the 49ers.
"Cousins has made it clear he does not want to be there. He wants to get to San Francisco and play for Kyle Shanahan." @wyche89 on Cousins
— NFL Media (@NFLMedia) March 8, 2017
But why would the Niners make a deal anyway? General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan just have to wait one more year to get Cousins, if they truly want him.
Granted, I’m not sold on Cousins. Yet if he has a productive year in Washington without receivers Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson, I might be a bit more convinced. And I’ll accept whatever transaction takes place if Shanahan truly feels Cousins is worth bringing in.
Even if it’s on a lucrative contract.
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Cousins probably won’t come cheap. Few franchise-type quarterbacks do. But perhaps a reunion with Shanahan would entice Cousins to work out a deal more friendly to San Francisco than many would likely anticipate.
If the cash is right, why not?
Regardless, there’s a lot of time between now and 2018 free agency. But it never hurts to set the table a bit in advance of the 49ers’ pending guests.
Next: The 49ers Were Wise to Avoid These 5 Free Agents
Whoever they may be.