Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins has been hit with the franchise tag (James Lang-USA Today)

Kirk Cousins will not hit the open free agency market this offseason. The Washington Redskins have placed the exclusive franchise tag on him. Cousins’ agent Mike McCartney posted the news on twitter.

If he plays under the tag in 2017, he will earn $24 million for the upcoming season. The two sides will have until July to work out a long-term deal. If Cousins does not sign the tag right away, there is a report that there could be a trade in place to send him to the 49ers which are something to monitor moving forward.

Cousins had some fun with the news as well this afternoon reacting in this way:

Cousins, 28, threw for 4,917 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2016.