Washington Redskins: Jay Gruden wants Kirk Cousins situation settled

Washington head coach Jay Gruden wants Kirk Cousins back in 2018. However, not on a one-year deal.

The negotiating has already begun. Last week, Washington Redskins‘ head coach Jay Gruden offered a blunt and honest assessment regarding the play of his quarterback, Kirk Cousins, in a season-ending press conference with the local media. In turn, Cousins hosted an event with the fans on Friday and said he wanted to remain with the Redskins, but would not be signing a long-term deal before the deadline to apply the franchise or transition tag.

Gruden, on his team-produced show, spoke openly about Cousins and the team needing to resolve his contract situation before the offseason gets underway. Gruden maintained he would like Cousins to return, but the uncertainty of the one-year deals was too much and it was time for the team to make a move with the quarterback, or have Cousins tell the team what his intentions are, per Dan Steinberg of The Washington Post.

"I think something has to be done. I personally don’t want to go through another one-year deal, and just keep going one year, one year. I think you want to have a quarterback in here that’s going to be here. And hopefully that is Kirk, and if not, we have to move on and do what we have to do as an organization."

Kudos to Gruden for speaking publicly about this. He had to do this. Not only does it put pressure on owner Daniel Snyder and team president Bruce Allen, but on Cousins, too. By admitting he and the team want Cousins back, it puts the ball back in Cousins’ court. Now, the team must make an offer to show Cousins — and the public — how serious they are about getting the quarterback under a long-term deal.

Cousins, of course, isn’t going to accept an offer. By his own words, he is waiting for the Redskins to make a decision about either tagging him or letting him test unrestricted free agency. That isn’t going to happen. The Redskins will apply either the transition tag for $28 million, or the franchise tag for $34 million on Cousins. The transition tag will still allow him to shop his services to other teams and the Redskins will have the rights to match.

Gruden also spoke of how important it was for quarterbacks to continue playing in the same system year after year. However, he wasn’t exactly glowing in his endorsement of Cousins (per ESPN):

"For the most part, the great quarterbacks are in the same system year in and year out and are developing in that system. Teams are not holding our breath every March and April, waiting for the guy. But if that’s the case, that’s the case. But we like Kirk and his development. He’s played well at times, without a doubt, proven that he’s a good starting NFL quarterback."

It’s likely the coach is just being completely honest with his feelings on Cousins. Saying he’s a good starting NFL quarterback isn’t necessarily saying he’s a top-tier franchise passer worthy of $25 million or more per season. After all, no coach knows Cousins quite like Gruden does.

Next: 2018 NFL Playoffs: Picks, predictions for Divisional Round

This situation continues to get more interesting by the day and if Gruden has his way, we’ll know how Washington”s quarterback situation shakes out for the foreseeable future. Will Cousins be a part of it? Or will the Redskins look to draft a rookie in the 2018 NFL Draft?

Either way, don’t expect Cousins to be playing on the franchise tag in 2018.