The San Francisco 49ers have a new coach and general manager, and they're looking for a long-term solution at quarterback.
First-year head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch will be taking a long look at quarterbacks in college and the NFL. One quarterback Shanahan and Lynch will be keeping a close eye on is Washington's Kirk Cousins.
Colin Kaepernick is the best quarterback on the 49ers roster, but he's expected to opt out of his contract in March and become a free agent. Even if Kaepernick decides not to opt out, the 49ers aren't likely to pay him $14.5 million in base salary and a $2 million roster bonus and will probably cut him before April 1, when his salary become fully guaranteed. The 2017 NFL draft is thin on quarterbacks and it's unlikely the 49ers would use the second overall pick on a quarterback.
Shanahan said he will avoid a quick fix and is searching for a long-term answer at quarterback.
"It's too important of a position to make an impulsive move," Shanahan told radio station KNBR in San Francisco on Friday. "When you make a decision on a quarterback, you don't want that to be just a short-term fix. You want to make a commitment to somebody."
Perhaps that commitment might be extended to Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Cousins will be an unrestricted free agent March 9, but Washington is expected to place the franchise tag on him for the 2017 season. The tag will also give Washington time to negotiate a long-term deal. However, Cousins reportedly wants out of Washington if owner Dan Snyder isn't willing to pay him between $20-25 million a season in a long-term deal. Without a long-term deal, Cousins reportedly would accept the franchise tag, play another year in Washington and leave after the 2017 season.
For the past couple of years, former Redskins officials who know Cousins have said he really doesn't want to be in Ashburn. He wants tag.
-- Jason Reid (@JReidESPN) February 16, 2017
Shanahan and Cousins have a relationship. Shanahan was the team's offensive coordinator from 2010-13 and worked with Cousins during his first two seasons in the NFL.
A lot of coaches say they pushed to get certain players, but Kyle really did stand on a table for Cousins.
-- Jason Reid (@JReidESPN) February 17, 2017
The 49ers could attempt to trade for Cousins in 2017, and Washington, knowing they could eventually lose Cousins with no compensation, might be willing to work a deal to extract maximum value.
-- Geoffrey C. Arnold | @geoffreyCarnold
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