NFL Free Agency: Is Quarterback Kirk Cousins an Answer for the 49ers?
The San Francisco 49ers have both plenty of needs this offseason as well as a plethora of salary cap space. So does targeting Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency make sense?
The San Francisco 49ers are probably going to make a change at quarterback this offseason, and it’s within the realm of possibility the team uses free agency in 2017 to address the need.
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San Francisco has no shortage of needs this offseason, but quarterback has to be considered one of the biggest.
Armed with a projected $46,284,014 in cap space next season (not including 2016 rollover), according to Over the Cap, is someone like Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins on the radar?
Cousins is in the final season of a five-year deal, with an earning of $19.95 million this season. He’s going to get paid this offseason if the Redskins don’t franchise tag him.
And the Niners could be in on the market.
Right now, San Francisco is rolling with quarterback Colin Kaepernick under center. Kap’s current deal allows him to opt out after this season and become a free agent. There are conflicting stories whether or not he’ll do so. Even if Kaepernick doesn’t, it wouldn’t be a shock to see San Francisco cut him anyway and generate $16.9 million in cap savings.
If Kap is gone though, is Cousins a worthy option?
Kirk Cousins to the 49ers a Possibility?
Gil Alcaraz IV of FanSided’s NFL Spin Zone predicted Cousins would land in Santa Clara this offseason.
He wrote:
Apart from the Browns, the 49ers are expected to have the highest amount of cap space available next offseason. And with Colin Kaepernick likely to be shown the door, Chip Kelly and Co. will be looking for a new quarterback to take this franchise into the future.
So why not spend big money on a proven arm like Cousins?
Sure, Cousins would be an upgrade over anything the Niners could field in 2017. But that doesn’t exactly make him a perfect fit, if there is one for San Francisco at this point.
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For starters, the Redskins have vastly superior talent. And the Niners are a location where standout offensive players can go do die, statistically. Just ask wide receiver Torrey Smith.
And while the thought of working under head coach Chip Kelly — assuming he’s back — and his offensive system might be enticing, would Cousins want to depart a playoff-contending franchise for a team in the very early stages of a complete rebuild?
Money talks, so it’s definitely a possibility. But it doesn’t mean the Niners would automatically benefit, numbers-wise, from Cousins’ presence on the field.
Even more of a question is whether or not Cousins is the type of quarterback capable of making a group of less-than-OK receivers on the field look better.
The likelihood is slim at best, and San Francisco will be hard-pressed to land Cousins in free agency this offseason.
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