Meanwhile, here in the mailbag, we continue to examine the Kirk Cousins contract situation, as well as other areas of need on the roster.

Thanks, as always, for taking part in the mailbag, and keep the questions coming! E-mail me at mike.jones@washpost.com with the subject line of “Mailbag question,” and we’ll do it all over again next week.

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Can Kirk Cousins handle the pressure of playing under the franchise tag if they do franchise him, knowing that he has to live up to a $20 million paycheck and play well enough to earn himself a long-term deal next year? He seems to struggle under pressure historically.

– Steve Moore

That’s a very good question, and it’s probably something Redskins officials could be asking themselves right now also. No one really knows the answer, though.

Cousins definitely wilted under pressure in 2014 when he had a chance to take over the starting job when Robert Griffin III missed six weeks with the dislocated ankle. However, down the stretch of last season, with the pressure of turning things around and making a push for the division, Cousins played his best football.

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The only thing about last season’s situation was, in a way, Cousins had little to lose. He wasn’t expected to be a franchise quarterback when he took over at the start of the season. He just had to manage games. Little by little, the Redskins put more on his shoulders, and he delivered.

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A year later, the expectations have changed, and it’s possible that Cousins would believe he needed to play up to that $20 million salary and prove himself as one of the league’s elite quarterbacks. Would that prompt him to unconsciously drift back to his old form, trying too hard to be a hero and in turn, forcing throws and turning the ball over frequently? All parties involved certainly hope not. But it’s one of the risks of having to use the franchise tag.

But the Redskins could encounter the same problem if they worked out a long-term contract with Cousins because whatever salary he receives will represent a dramatic spike over the $660,000 base salary he drew last season. They just have to hope that the maturity he displayed last season will help him handle this new kind of pressure, whether it’s under the franchise tag or a long-term deal.

When we hear that the Redskins and Kirk Cousins are “far apart” in their negotiations to get him a new contract, just how far apart does “far apart” really mean?

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– Cliff Rhodes

Far apart means that they aren’t on the verge of signing a deal within the next few days. “Far apart” can suddenly switch to “within striking distance,” however, because all it takes is a phone call between Cousins and his agent, Mike McCartney, with the quarterback instructing his agent to get a deal done A.S.A.P., and then a call between McCartney and Schaffer, who will hammer out the details of the deal.

Right now, however, the most likely scenario involves the Redskins having to use the franchise tag on Cousins on the March 1 deadline. Although Cousins has said that he wants to return to Washington, he and McCartney have a lot of confidence in his ability and earning potential. The two would love for Cousins to have the opportunity to test the waters of free agency so they can get a clear indication of the quarterback’s market value.

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From what I’ve been able to gather from talking to people this week, nothing has changed on this front. The Redskins would prefer to sign the quarterback for a deal within that $15 million-to-$18 million range because they can structure that deal so all of it doesn’t count against the salary cap this season. However, Cousins – because of that desire to test the market – is in no hurry to sign right now. So, the Redskins will use the franchise tag to protect themselves, ensuring that another team can’t swoop in and sign Cousins away from them. That franchise tag means roughly a $20 million cap hit, however, and so, it’s very possible that the designation (which calls for any team signing Cousins to a deal too rich for Washington’s taste to give the Redskins two first-round picks as compensation) will scare teams away. The Redskins and Cousins would then have until July 15 to continue negotiating toward a multi-year deal, or else, Cousins will play next season under the $20 million salary and then become a free agent all over again next offseason.

I was wondering if the Redskins could possibly draft Clemson corner Mackensie Alexander at pick No. 21. He seems like a good, athletic guy for a depleted Redskins secondary. Even though Scot McCloughan prefers long, rangy corners, Alexander seems too athletic to pass up.

– Arya Forohar

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It’s still super early, but it’s definitely a possibility. Washington certainly could use help in the secondary. Right now, Bashaud Breeland is the only healthy cornerback on the roster with substantial playing time under his belt. Quinton Dunbar showed promise in his limited action last season. But Will Blackmon is a free agent, and Chris Culliver is coming off of reconstructive knee surgery, the second of his career.

Alexander, who took over for Breeland at Clemson after Breeland left for the NFL as a junior, is described as a speedy, physical cornerback who plays with great confidence and a bit of a nasty streak. He has drawn comparisons to Carolina’s Josh Norman, although he’s a little smaller at 5 feet 10, 195 pounds. You’re right, McCloughan does tend to like size, but there are always exceptions. He said at the Senior Bowl, “I don’t need the biggest, the fastest, the prettiest – I want a football player.” So, if Alexander is sitting there at 21st overall, and the Redskins like him better than some of the defensive linemen or linebackers in the draft, then it’s certainly a possibility.

Has general manager Scot McCloughan given any indication about what their focus will be for the draft (obviously it will be heavy in SEC players)? I keep looking back at the Scherff pick and wondering if we wouldn’t have been happier with Leonard Williams. The pick feels short-sighted in retrospect. Do you think that pick was a mistake?

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– Dave Shockey, Sacramento, Calif.

We’ll hear from McCloughan this week while at the NFL Scouting Combine, but I don’t expect him to get into specifics. He didn’t at the Senior Bowl, but did acknowledge that the team needs to improve the defensive side of the ball especially. I’d expect the Redskins to use the first two picks on defensive players, whether a nose tackle and linebacker, or a cornerback.

I’ve got no problem at all with the Brandon Scherff pick. I said it at the time of the pick, and nothing has changed. They found a long-term piece to the puzzle along their offensive line. Scherff had a good rookie season and is likely to improve. Yes, the Redskins still need help along the defensive line, but they had questions about Williams. They loved the hard-nosed approach Scherff took to his preparation day in and day out, they loved his versatility and potential. They had questions about Williams’s work ethic, drive and some personal matters. So they went with Scherff.

Is it true that Chris Culliver had $8 million in 2016 guaranteed money voided from his deal due to an early-season suspension? Also, what was the overall impression of safety Dashon Goldson’s play last year? Will he be back in 2016?

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– Devin Perry

Yes, there was a clause in his contract that voided the $8 million fully guaranteed 2016 salary when he got suspended over that 2014 off-field incident. Instead, the Redskins would only be on the hook for $3.75 million if they decided to cut Culliver. That’s unlikely, even though he’s coming off of knee surgery and faces an uncertain future. However, it’s possible that the team works out a deal to restructure his contract and lower his $9.25 million salary-cap hit ($8 million salary, $1.25 million signing bonus installment).

On Goldson, I expect him to return this year. But, he’s another player who’s a candidate for restructuring. He currently will count for $8 million against the cap. While he played a valuable role on defense, and in the locker room, team officials don’t feel like he’s worth that much. He played well, but wasn’t as impactful as the defense needed at times. He no longer has the range to be a ball-hawking free safety, and is better suited as an in-the-box strong safety at this point in his career.

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Who will be the Redskins’ starting wide receivers in 2016?

– Karl Warcholik

Probably Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson, with Jamison Crowder serving as the No. 3 receiver. The Redskins could try to restructure Pierre Garcon’s contract, reducing his scheduled $10.2 million cap hit and possibly adding another year or two on to his deal. But, they’re unlikely to cut him, and I don’t see them cutting Jackson either. Free agency will feature a few impact wide receivers, but compared to the money that top wideouts are getting, Garcon and Jackson are relatively affordable. I wouldn’t be surprised if the team drafts a wide receiver to groom behind those two veterans, positioning him to take over next year. But I don’t see them using a high pick on a Day 1 starting wide receiver.

E-mail a Redskins question to mike.jones@washpost.com, with the subject “Mailbag question,” and it might be answered Tuesday in the Mailbag.