Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN: 49ers ‘hold the upper hand’ in deal for Kirk Cousins
ESPN reporter John Keim, who covers the Washington Redskins,
joined KNBR to discuss what is going on with quarterback Kirk Cousins. Last week, Washington placed the exclusive franchise tag on Cousins, which means that any negotiations for the quarterback must go through them. Interested teams cannot open discussions with the quarterback, even just to see if Cousins would sign a long-term contract with them.
Keim already reported that
Cousins would be open to signing a long-term contract with the 49ers and others have reported that the quarterback
really wants to be with his former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco. In fact, Keim reported that Cousins would not sign a long-term deal if he was traded anywhere else. That really leaves Washington with two options. They can keep Kirk Cousins as their starting quarterback at a one-year rental price of $23.94 million or they can trade him to the 49ers. No other team will attempt to trade for Cousins if they do not believe he will sign a long-term deal.
If Washington decides to hold on to Cousins without signing him to a long-term contract, they will very likely lose him to free agency in 2018 when a team like the 49ers can sign him without giving up draft picks. The most Washington would receive in return for the loss would be a 2019 third-round compensatory selection.
What does Washington want in return for Cousins right now? "I think somebody reported last week an RGIII-type haul," Keim said on
KNBR. "That's silly. That's not going to happen. Nobody's going to do that. If that's what they're floating, well then they're living a fantasy and other teams know it. The 49ers know it. They don't have to pay that.
"If they stick to that, then they risk losing [Cousins] next offseason and receiving only a third-round compensatory pick in 2019. They know that so I wouldn't be surprised – if they can't get a long-term deal – that they lower the demand and work out a deal with the Niners. But again, the Niners hold the upper hand here."
The 49ers' backup plan appears to be Chicago Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer. Ian Rapoport of
NFL Media reports that the
49ers and New York Jets are showing "strong interest" in the quarterback. Hoyer, an eight-year veteran, started 14 games while current 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was the offensive coordinator for a season (2014) in Cleveland. That year, Hoyer passed for a career-high 3,326 yards, completing 55.3 percent of his passes and throwing 12 touchdowns compared to 13 interceptions.
The 49ers also appear to be closing in on a deal with one of Cousins' top targets in Washington. Wide receiver Pierre Garcon is expected to join the 49ers as a free agent. Of course, the team cannot officially sign him until the start of the new league year at 1 p.m. Pacific on Thursday.
LISTEN
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
5 ESPN experts name Javon Hargrave-to-49ers as best free agent signing
ESPN recently asked 12 of its analysts and writers to identify the best overall free agent signing this offseason. Five of them named the San Francisco 49ers signing former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave as the winner.
After facing him in the NFC Championship Game, the Niners couldn't resist the urge to pursue the high-profile free agent. Hargrave recorded five of the Eagles defense's 20 total pressures in that game against the 49ers, tallying one of Philadelphia's three sacks, and earning a 91.1 overall Pro Football Focus grade, his second-highest grade of the season (91.5, Week 18 vs. Giants). The defender's
Details emerge on S Tashaun Gipson's 1-year deal with 49ers
Safety Tashaun Gipson is returning to the San Francisco 49ers on a one-year deal worth $2.9 million with $2.17 million guaranteed, as reported on Sunday. OverTheCap.com has the contract details, which are shown below. Gipson's $1 million prorated bonus is spread over five years, lasting through 2027, with the cap impact lasting through next year.
2023
Base salary: $1,170,000
Prorated bonus: $200,000
Total per-game roster bonus: $680,000
Workout bonus: $50,000
Guaranteed salary: $1,170,000
Salary-cap number:
Javon Hargrave loved "everything but the taxes" in deal to join 49ers
After a very productive season with the Philadelphia Eagles, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave earned a big payday with the San Francisco 49ers, signing a four-year deal worth up to $84 million. That is life-changing money for the 30-year-old.
Hargrave joined KNBR on Friday to discuss the move from Philly to the Bay Area.
"I was talking to them before I even signed, and one thing I even told him, even the players that had [contacted] me was just it ain't really too much convincing you all can do," Hargrave said. "You ain't really got to convince me. I guess they thought I was playing at the time, but it ain't really hard to convince when you go into a team that's built on winning, and one, they trying to come pay me big money."
Going from one stacked
49ers signing former Panthers safety Myles Hartsfield to one-year deal
According to NFL Media's Mike Garafolo, the San Francisco 49ers are signing former Carolina Panthers safety Myles Hartsfield. He reunites with 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, the Panthers' former interim head coach.
The #49ers have agreed to terms with DB Myles Hartsfield, source says. He wasn't tendered by the #Panthers as a restricted