INDIANAPOLIS -- The Washington Redskins slapped the franchise tag on Kirk Cousins Tuesday, marking the first time a team has franchised the same quarterback on two occasions. But head coach Jay Gruden remains hopeful of agreeing to a long-term contract.

"I think it'll happen; I really do," Gruden told a small group of reporters at the combine Wednesday morning. "We'll wait and see."

Coach Jay Gruden is hopeful and confident that newly franchised Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins and the team can reach a long-term deal. Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The Redskins gave Cousins the nonexclusive tag last year and hit him with the exclusive tag this year, the latter meaning he cannot negotiate with other teams. Cousins is currently lined up to make $23.94 million under the tag in 2017, but both sides can negotiate on a long-term deal until July 15.

"Both parties have to come up with something," Gruden said. "We can offer him the world, but if he doesn't want to sign it, he doesn't have to sign it. And then we have to do maybe a better job."

Cousins was a fourth-round pick out of Michigan State in 2012 and spent the vast majority of his first three years backing up Robert Griffin III. Over the past two years, though, he shined as the starting quarterback under former offensive coordinator Sean McVay, who is now head coach of the Los Angeles Rams.

In 2015, Cousins recovered from a sluggish start by throwing 23 touchdown passes to just three interceptions over the last 10 games, leading the Redskins to the NFC East title. Washington then hit Cousins with the franchise tag, which paid him $19.953 million in 2016. Cousins responded with another solid season, throwing for a career-high 4,917 yards with 25 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions while just barely missing the playoffs.

The Redskins could still trade Cousins, but Gruden made it seem like that isn't even a possibility.

"We'd like to keep Kirk here, obviously, and we think he's going to be our quarterback for a long time," he said. "We'll have an opportunity to negotiate with him and get a long-term deal. That's what we wanted to do. Just move forward and tag him, try to get a deal done and go from there."