Some might argue that the team should have paid up to do a long-term deal with Cousins in 2016, back when he was first hit with the franchise tag, which would have conceivably allowed them to lock him up for less than he'd cost them now. But at that point, Cousins had been a full-time starter for just one season, and I don't think he was worth more than the $16 million per year they offered him at the time. I think they were smart to tag him and make him prove he was worth the money. Based on how he's performed since, I don't think he'll be able to play up to the size of the contract it'd take to keep him in Washington, either via the tag or a long-term agreement.