Report: Washington Redskins, Kirk Cousins cut off talks

Quarterback Kirk Cousins and the Washington Redskins suspended contract negotiations on Tuesday and none are scheduled at this time, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Cousins, coming off his only season as a starter, is a pending free agent. The Redskins are on record stating they would like to bring Cousins back, and might lean on the franchise tag to retain him for 2016. Based on current projections, the 2016 salary cap is likely to be around $153 million and the one-year salary for quarterbacks given the franchise designation right at $20 million.

General manager Scot McCloughan said during the Senior Bowl in January that Cousins was a top priority for the Redskins this offseason.

Cousins had a franchise-record 4,166 yards with 29 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season.

Cousins was a fourth-round pick in 2012 and spent his first three seasons backing up Robert Griffin III, the No. 2 overall pick in the same draft. But Cousins unseated RG3 in August 2015 and was the full-time starter last season, leading the Redskins to the NFC East title at 9-7.

Griffin's $16.3 million salary due as part of the option the Redskins picked up last year can be wiped off the books entirely if he's released before the start of the new league year March 9.

Teams can use the franchise tag to retain refusal rights from Feb. 16-March 1.

If another team makes an offer to Cousins and the Redskins choose not to match that offer, Washington would receive two first-round picks in return.