Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins fine with playing on franchise tag

Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins told WFJK-FM on Tuesday that he has no qualms about playing on a year-to-year contract, one day after the deadline passed for franchise-tagged players to sign long-term deals.

Cousins, who will make $23.9 million this season, and the Redskins can't negotiate a long-term deal until the season ends by virtue of being unable to come to an agreement by Monday's deadline.

"It was closer than people would think," the 28-year-old Cousins told the radio station of opting against making a counteroffer to the Redskins' proposal. "Even up to a week ago, I was still praying over whether we should send an offer ... but ultimately I just felt peace on not making an offer and leaving it up to the team ... based on their offers being able to go from there and then the deadline passed and play the season out. That's what I felt the most at peace about so that's what we ended up doing."

After the deadline, Redskins president Bruce Allen delivered a statement that said the team offered Cousins a contract with $53 million in fully guaranteed money -- and $72 million guaranteed for injury. That guarantee included the money he'll make this year under the tag.

The deal would have made Cousins at least the second highest-paid player by average per year in NFL history, Allen said.

"But despite our repeated attempts, we have not received any offer from Kirk's agent this year," Allen said. "Kirk has made it clear that he prefers to play on a year-to-year basis. While we would have liked to work out a long-term contract before this season, we accept his decision."

Cousins said on Tuesday that Allen's statement "doesn't rub me the wrong way at all."

In addition to laughing off how Allen pronounced his first name, Cousins even noted that he'd play on a one-year deal again should he receive the franchise tag in 2018 -- although it would cost the team $34.7 million. Cousins would be unable to negotiate with any other teams.

Cousins threw for 4,917 yards with 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2016 and also posted a 97.2 passer rating last season. Cousins' 12,113 yards in five seasons with Washington ranks sixth on the franchise's all-time passing yards list. He is 239 yards behind Billy Kilmer for fifth.