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How much money will Kirk Cousins get?

NFL: NOV 22 Redskins at Panthers

Short answer, Washington Redskins Quarterback Kirk Cousins has made himself a lot of money this season with his performance. He is due for a massive payday.

Long answer, he’s worth… We’ll discuss that below.

Kirk Cousins is only 27 years old and is the final year of his rookie contact. When you are that age and are coming off a good season as a quarterback, you are going to get paid a lot of money. Just take a look below at the contracts the league has handed out the last ten years to quarterbacks who are about the same age and have had success as starters.

Contracts of Quarterbacks still in the league within two years of their age 28 season: 

Player Year Age Years Money Guaranteed AAV
Cam Newton 2015 26 5 $103,800,000 $60,000,000 $20,760,000
Russell Wilson* 2015 27 4 $87,000,000 $61,547,000 $21,750,000
Ryan Tannehill 2015 27 4 $77,000,000 $45,000,000 $19,250,000
Colin Kaepernick 2014 27 6 $114,000,000 $61,000,000 $19,000,000
Andy Dalton 2014 27 6 $96,000,000 $17,000,000 $16,000,000
Joe Flacco* 2013 28 6 $120,000,000 $29,000,000 $20,000,000
Matt Ryan 2013 28 5 $103,750,000 $42,000,000 $20,750,000
Eli Manning 2010 29 6 $97,500,000 $35,000,000 $16,250,000
Philip Rivers 2009 28 6 $91,800,000 $38,150,000 $15,300,000
Jay Cutler 2009 26 5 $50,370,000 $20,000,000 $10,074,000
B. Roethlisberger 2008 26 6 $87,986,500 $33,200,000 $14,664,417
Tony Romo 2007 27 6 $67,500,000 $24,000,000 $11,250,000
Drew Brees 2006 27 6 $60,000,000 $20,000,000 $10,000,000

Just looking at this list and using the “eye test”, there aren’t many who you’d think that Kirk Cousins is good as. However, if you just put his stats on paper with these guys, you realize that Kirk Cousins is damn close.

Player Year Comp Total Yds Total TD’s INT Rate
Kirk Cousins 2015 69.7% 4,202 31 13 97.2
Cam Newton 2014 58.5% 3,666 23 12 82.1
Russell Wilson 2014 63.1% 4,324 26 7 95.0
Ryan Tannehill 2014 66.4% 4,356 28 12 92.8
Colin Kaepernick 2013 58.4% 3,721 25 8 91.6
Andy Dalton 2013 61.9% 4,476 35 20 88.8
Joe Flacco 2012 59.7% 3,839 25 10 87.7
Matt Ryan 2012 68.6% 4,860 33 14 99.1
Eli Manning 2009 62.3% 4,086 27 14 93.1
Philip Rivers 2008 65.3% 4,093 34 11 105.5
Jay Cutler 2008 62.3% 4,726 27 18 86.0
Ben Roethlisberger 2007 65.3% 3,154 34 11 104.1
Tony Romo 2006 65.3% 2,903 19 13 95.1
Drew Brees 2005 64.6% 3,625 25 15 89.2
Cousins’ numbers are what projections for what his full season will be if he kept current per game averages (show in italics)

Know knowing this historical data, how much do you think Kirk Cousins will receive? One factor to consider is the Washington Redskins have threatened to place the franchise tag on Cousins, removing all of his leverage in negotiation as he is scheduled to reach free agency.  The franchise tag for Kirk Cousins would be between $19 and $20 million dollars in 2016, so it wouldn’t be cheap. If the Redskins weren’t 100 percent sold on Cousins as their quarterback of the future, they certainty can use that option and be on the hook for no money the year after.

If the Washington Redskins decide not to franchise Cousins, I project that Cousins will get an extension in the range of six years and $100 million dollars. That seems like a lot for a guy that the NFL was ready to give up on earlier in the season, but that is the historic going rate for quality quarterbacks as they are about to enter free agency at his age.

I’m sure he’ll like that.

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