NFL Report: Kirk Cousins gets franchise tag from Redskins

A year ago at this time, Kirk Cousins was relegated to backup status with the Washington Redskins, owned a resume that included only nine NFL starts and more interceptions than touchdowns, and was playing under a four-year rookie contract barely worth a total of more than $2.5 million.

Now, with the quarterback coming off coming off a breakthrough season, the Redskins announced Tuesday they placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Cousins, setting him up to earn about $20 million next season and making sure he doesn’t become an unrestricted free agent next week.

Tuesday was the deadline for teams to use a franchise or transition tag. By choosing the non-exclusive franchise tag, the Redskins allow Cousins to talk to other clubs, but Washington would be allowed to match any offer — or receive a pair of first-round draft picks as compensation should he leave.

The franchise tag for a quarterback in 2016 is $19.953 million. The Redskins have until July 15 to negotiate with Cousins on a longer contract.

Cousins’ fourth year in the league was his first as a full-time starter, taking the job from Robert Griffin III late in preseason and never letting go, while leading Washington to an NFC East title after six last-place finishes in the previous seven seasons.

Cousins led the NFL with a 69.8% completion rate, set a league record with a home completion mark of 74.7%, and finished with 29 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, a franchise-record 4,166 yards and a passer rating of 101.6. He helped the Redskins close the regular season with four consecutive wins for a 9-7 mark before they lost to the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round.

Cousins was a fourth-round draft choice in 2012, the same year Griffin arrived in Washington as the No. 2 overall selection after a massive trade with the St. Louis Rams cost the Redskins a bevy of high draft picks.

Bradford stays an Eagle

Sam Bradford agreed to a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, passing up an opportunity to test free agency next week. The deal is worth up to $40 million, including incentives, with $26 million guaranteed, according to a person familiar with the deal.

Bradford joined the Eagles last season and compiled some career bests, but the team finished 7-9 and Coach Chip Kelly was fired. New Coach Doug Pederson praised Bradford’s skill set and the team’s front office decided to keep the injury-prone former No. 1 overall pick without committing to him long term.

The 28-year-old Bradford was acquired by the Eagles in a trade a year ago with the Rams that sent Philadelphia’s incumbent quarterback, Nick Foles, to St. Louis along with a 2016 second-round draft pick. Bradford started 14 games and threw for a career-high 3,725 yards, the fourth-highest yardage total in franchise history. Bradford’s 346 completions and his career-best 65.03 completion percentage both were single-season team records.

Elsewhere:

•The Denver Broncos placed their exclusive franchise tag on Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller after General Manager John Elway and Miller’s agent were unable to agree on a long-term contract for the star linebacker, who expects “peaceful” negotiations.

The one-year tender offer means Miller’s salary will be no less than the average of the top five salaries at his position. That’s about one and a-half times the $9.754 million he made last season.

Both sides are confident they’ll work out an extension before the July 15 deadline, however, that will make the 26-year-old pass-rusher a $100-million megastar.

• The Carolina Panthers applied the non-exclusive franchise tag to All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman, who will make $13.952 million next season unless he signs a long-term contract.

“Sure, everyone wants a long-term contract because it means more stability,” Norman told the Associated Press. “But there isn’t much you can do about it.”

• The Kansas City Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Eric Berry, ensuring the All-Pro safety who overcame from cancer last year will remain Chiefs property through next season.

The 27-year-old Berry will make $10,806,000 under the franchise tag. It’s the fourth time in five years that Kansas City has designated a franchise player.

Berry was diagnosed with lymphoma in late 2014 and immediately began treatment. He was deemed cancer-free last summer, reported to training camp on time, and proceeded to have arguably the best season of his six-year career. He made 55 tackles and two interceptions while playing in every game.

• High-priced defensive end Mario Williams is out in Buffalo, while the Bills aren’t giving up on re-signing left tackle Cordy Glenn. The Bills released Williams and retained the rights to Glenn by designating him their franchise player.

By releasing Williams, the salary cap-strapped Bills freed up nearly $13 million in payroll next season. He had two years left on the six-year, $100-million contract, and was scheduled to make an $11.5-million base salary this year.

Williams’ departure opened room for Buffalo to tag Glenn, who was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent. The $13.7-million designation is essentially a one-year contract offer. Glenn can sign or negotiate a longer-term deal with Buffalo.

•Defensive end Olivier Vernon received a transition tag from the Miami Dolphins, who are gambling they won’t lose him to another team when free agency starts next week. Miami decided against placing a $15.7-million franchise tag on Vernon, which would have prevented another team from offering Vernon a deal.

• The New York Jets placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Pro Bowl defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, who will be paid $15.701 million for the 2016 season.