National Football League

Kirk Cousins reportedly has signed his Redskins franchise tender

Published Mar. 10, 2017 11:47 a.m. ET

Dan Graf

For all the talk in recent weeks about Kirk Cousins possibly getting traded to the San Francisco 49ers, one thing had to happen before the Washington Redskins could deal him anywhere: Cousins needed to sign the one-year franchise tag contract the team placed on him, and he reportedly did that Friday.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/840235686896762881

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/840235870166896644

The sixth-year QB is now officially again property of the Redskins and under contract for the 2017 season, which is significant for two reasons:

1. Cousins, as ESPN pointed out, can be traded – even if the 49ers rumors have been more smoke than fire at this point.

2. The clock now begins ticking on his future with the team even if he is around for next season. The Redskins will have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal with him before he’ll again be open to free agency next offseason – that time without the luxury of applying the franchise tag.

Things just got even more interesting in Washington, which is holding the key to the offseason quarterback market. For their part, the 49ers have already agreed to contracts with free agents Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley, but as long as Kyle Shanahan is coach of the team there will be talk that he wants to bring in his former Redskins pupil as well.