Niner Noise
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Which NFL teams will need a quarterback in 2018?

By Peter Panacy

Nov 29, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) tumbles into the photographers after spiking the ball during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. The Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 19-13. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) tumbles into the photographers after spiking the ball during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. The Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 19-13. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 24, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) in action during the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The Redskins defeat the Bears 41-21. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) in action during the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The Redskins defeat the Bears 41-21. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Washington Redskins

Quarterbacks on Roster: Kirk Cousins, Colt McCoy, Nate Sudfeld

The Washington Redskins slapped a franchise tag on quarterback Kirk Cousins for the second straight year, and Cousins didn’t hesitate to have some fun with the news back in February:

This tag costs the Redskins $23.9 million this season, per Over the Cap. And considering a third tag would cost in the neighborhood of $34 million, it’s highly unlikely Washington goes this route again in 2018.

The Redskins have two options here — re-sign Cousins on what would likely be a four- or five-year deal between $90 million and $110 million or let him walk in free agency.

Perhaps a Cousins reunion with now-49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan would be in the works, but that’s a story for another time.

Instead, the Redskins may be looking for the next page under center.

Cousins’ stats could take a hit anyway. His former offensive coordinator, Sean McVay, is now the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams. And Cousins’ best two wide receivers, DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, are with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 49ers, respectively.

Maybe a drop in production lessens Cousins’ value enough to convince Washington he’s worth a new deal.

Or the Redskins move on, which seems the more likely case.