Quarterback Kirk Cousins has recently appealed to Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder, asking for a trade without a long-term contract in place, league and team sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
Snyder told Cousins that he should not anticipate a trade, sources said, and the quarterback is prevented from negotiating with teams under the exclusive franchise tag that was placed upon him on Feb. 28.
If the Redskins choose to trade Cousins, they would have to grant him permission to talk to other teams and work out a long-term contract before a deal likely would be completed.
If Cousins were to remain with the Redskins, he likely would have to find new targets for the passing game. DeSean Jackson (Buccaneers) and Pierre Garcon (49ers) are both expected to leave the Redskins in free agency. It would mark the first time in NFL history that a team would lose two 1,000-yard receivers from the previous season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The Redskins, meanwhile, have been making decisions this offseason without the input of general manager Scot McCloughan, as his future with the organization remains in question, multiple sources told ESPN's John Keim.
Cousins received the nonexclusive tag last year at a cost of $19.953 million. It's the first time in history a team has used the franchise tag twice on the same quarterback.
The Redskins can negotiate with Cousins on a long-term deal until July 15. At that point, there can be no deal struck until after the Redskins' season. Cousins will make $23.94 million if he plays under the tag.
Cousins is coming off a solid season in which he threw for a career-high 4,917 yards with 25 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions as the Redskins finished 8-7-1 and failed to make the playoffs.
ESPN's John Keim contributed to this report.
