Kirk Cousins‘ time with the Washington Redskins is about to end after they chose not to use the franchise tag on the quarterback as expected.

The Redskins have agreed to acquire Alex Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs Zach Brown Jersey , effectively pushing Cousins into free agency following a tumultuous six years with the club the drafted him. Cousins will be the top free agent available when the league year opens in mid-March and should have no shortage of suitors.

”Next week is now officially the first time since 2007 that I’ll be choosing where to play football,” Cousins posted on Twitter. ”I’m open to suggestions.”

The 29-year-old Cousins is coming off his third consecutive 4,000-yard passing season. In his time as a full-time NFL starter, he has completed 67 percent of his passes for 81 touchdowns, 36 interceptions and a 97.5 QB rating.

Despite previously saying Washington could win with Cousins, coach Jay Gruden said at the scouting combine that ”it’s time for us to move on” and find some continuity at the position.

The Redskins now seemingly have that in Smith, who will join the Redskins once the trade becomes official March 14 and has agreed to a four-year extension with $71 million guaranteed.

Cousins could easily command more than that on the open market with the New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns among the teams interested in upgrading at quarterback.

After becoming the first QB in NFL history to play two consecutive seasons on the franchise tag – making almost $44 million in the process – Cousins is looking for long-term stability in the wake of almost-weekly questions about his future in Washington persisted over the past few years. Agent Mike McCartney declined to comment on the plans of the Cousins camp in an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday.

This is perhaps the first time in Cousins’ football career that he has been No. 1 on any list. He did not have any scholarship offers as a high school senior Devin Bush Jersey , was not considered a top prospect after four years at Michigan State and got picked in the fourth round in 2012 by the Redskins – the same draft they traded up to make Robert Griffin III the No. 2 pick.

Only 39-year-old Drew Brees, who’s expected to re-sign with the New Orleans Saints, threw for more yards last season than Cousins, who is the best option available in a crop that includes Case Keenum, Sam Bradford and Josh McCown. Though during the 2017 season it was reported that Cousins could set a record for QB contracts, it’s unclear how close he might come to the $135 million, five-year deal with $92 million guaranteed that Matthew Stafford signed with the Detroit Lions.

NOTE: The Redskins re-signed safety Deshazor Everett to a multiyear deal and waived running backs Dare Ogunbowale and Kenny Hilliard and tackle Kevin Bowen.

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The Cincinnati Bengals and their coach, Marvin Lewis, don’t like major changes.

Neither does Teryl Austin, which makes him a good fit as the team’s new defensive coordinator.

”We wanted to stay within our structure http://www.steelerscheapauthenticstore.com/diontae-johnson-jersey-cheap ,” Lewis said Thursday during Austin’s introductory news conference. ”With the personnel we have returning, we didn’t have to make drastic changes. We didn’t want the players to have to re-learn the wheel.”

Austin, 52, spent the past four seasons as Detroit’s defensive coordinator, but his future was in doubt after the Lions fired coach Jim Caldwell last week. He inherits a defense that was 18th in the NFL in total defense and produced 14 takeaways this past season. The Lions finished ninth in total defense with 32 takeaways.

”It’s more about the players than us,” said Austin, who replaces Paul Guenther. ”We wanted to keep things similar, terminology-wise. We’ll make some changes, but nothing drastic.”

Lewis said, ”He has ties to a lot of people on our staff here.”

Guenther left Cincinnati after spending 13 seasons with the Bengals Justin Layne Jersey , the last four as defensive coordinator, for the same job with the Oakland Raiders.

Austin, who interviewed for Detroit’s coaching vacancy last week, preferred joining a team that he felt didn’t need a lot of work.

”One thing I wanted was to go somewhere and not have to overhaul things,” he said. ”The Bengals have good personnel. We’ll try to do what they were doing, but just do it better. There’s good talent here. Every year, you try to add to that talent. My job is to make sure they perform on the field.

”We’re going to try to play on (the opponent’s) side of the line of scrimmage and play without fear – physical and strong. We’re not going to sit back and let the other teams dictate what we do.”

That includes forcing turnovers, he said.

”It’s like anything you coach,” Austin said. ”You get what you emphasize.”

In 2014, the Lions became the ninth team in NFL history to finish the season allowing fewer than 70 yards rushing per game. Detroit lost Ndamukong Suh off that team and slipped defensively after that.

Austin previously was a secondary coach for the Baltimore Ravens and also has coached defensive backs for the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.

Lewis http://www.steelerscheapauthenticstore.com/benny-snell-jr.-jersey-cheap , who was brought back by the Bengals after a 7-9 season, has sent five assistants on to NFL head coaching jobs, but Austin said that wasn’t part of his decision-making process.

”I think the bigger selling point is the chance to work with some quality people and a quality team,” he said. ”The other stuff can take care of itself.”

Lewis added, ”Hopefully, he’ll have great success immediately and he has that opportunity.”

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