The Alex Smith trade was good for Kirk Cousins and discouraging for the Cleveland Browns. That was one initial takeaway from conversations with NFL executives about what comes next for Cousins, the Washington Redskins quarterback expected to hit free agency next month.
Cousins, who turns 30 in August, will become the rare starting quarterback to reach free agency in his prime after Washington arranged to acquire Smith from Kansas City in a deal that can become official when the trading period opens March 14. Once Cousins hits the market, he will be in position to choose from a range of suitors based on criteria that matters most to him, under the assumption that any team serious about signing him will pay him well.