Silver: Kirk Cousins will be the 49ers QB in 2018, maybe still 2017

The San Francisco 49ers will have a quarterback on their roster at the start of the new league year on Thursday but his name is not Kirk Cousins. Chicago Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer has agreed in principle to a two-year deal to join head coach Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco.

Some within the media believe the addition of Hoyer may have closed the door on Cousins playing for the 49ers in 2017 and that San Francisco may simply wait until 2018 to acquire the quarterback via free agency without having to give up draft compensation.

Mike Silver of NFL Media believes that Cousins will be the 49ers' quarterback in 2018 but he isn't exactly closing the door on the possibility that a move is still made to send Cousins to San Francisco in 2017. "The smart move for the 49ers is to wait a year, see how this goes, and if they still want Kirk Cousins a year from now – given the way the franchise tag works – they can probably get him for free," Silver said on NFL Network. "Not contract-wise. It will be expensive. In terms of having to give up compensation."

Mike Silver: Kirk Cousins will be the 49ers quarterback in 2018, if not sooner

"I believe that Kirk Cousins wants no part of Washington right now and would like to be in San Francisco. And Washington is a dysfunctional dumpster fire with Scot McCloughan not even in the office now," Silver continued. "And there's some dubious things going on above him, I would just say.

"Logic would suggest that they wait a year but I wouldn't close the door because when you've got quarterback wanting to go, coach you just gave a six-year contract to wanting quarterback, and dysfunction on the other end, anything is possible."

Silver went on to admit that he does not know if the 49ers have made an offer to Washington in an attempt to acquire Cousins. Although, it is likely that the two organizations at least brought up the topic at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last week.

Why would Washington trade Cousins to the 49ers? San Francisco certainly will not overpay now when they can simply sign him next year. "They certainly would not give up two first-round picks but there's always a number," Silver said. "Why would Washington do it? Well, if Kirk Cousins doesn't sign the franchise tender for example, which he has not yet, and tells them, 'I'm not coming in. I'll sign it on August 30th and come in and play for $25 million.'"

Silver says that Cousins has a lot of leverage over Washington. "If Kirk Cousins and Kyle Shanahan both want this, there's a way to put pressure on Washington," Silver said.

"I think Kirk Cousins will be the 49ers quarterback in 2018, almost certainly, and I think there's still a decent chance it could happen in 2017," Silver concluded.

The 49ers have not committed to Hoyer as their starting quarterback in 2017, leaving the door open for another big move at the position. However, according to NFL Network, the 49ers have informed Hoyer that he will have a chance to compete for the starting job in 2017. Once Hoyer signs, he will be the only quarterback on the 49ers roster so more moves at the position are gauranteed.

One thing is certain: It is good to hear the term "dumpster fire" and not have it being used as a description for the 49ers organization.