Kirk Cousins free agency rumors: Former Redskins teammate believes Denver is the next spot

Ron Clements

Kirk Cousins free agency rumors: Former Redskins teammate believes Denver is the next spot image

If D.J. Swearinger is right, the Broncos will be the next team for Kirk Cousins.

The Redskins safety spoke to NFL Network Monday and said he believes Cousins will wind up in Denver.

Swearinger's opinion falls in line with what many think about Cousins' next NFL stop. While the Jets are willing to break the bank to land the sixth-year quarterback and Browns tackle Joe Thomas is openly recruiting Cousins, the Broncos might give Cousins the best opportunity to play for a contender immediately. 

Cousins has been with the Redskins since they selected him in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Washington took Robert Griffin III with the No. 2 overall pick that season, but after Griffin was named the NFL's Rookie of the Year in 2012, injuries derailed him and Cousins stepped in. The former Michigan State quarterback has started every game for the Redskins since 2015 and was a Pro Bowler in 2016, where he threw for 4,917 yards with 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Cousins has thrown for over 4,000 yards in each of this three seasons as a starter, but the Redskins have just one playoff appearance and have seen their wins dip each season. After placing a franchise tag on Cousins last season, paying him nearly $24 million, the Redskins signaled the end of his time in Washington when they traded for Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith.

That Jan. 30 trade didn't sit right with Swearinger, who was upset the team sent second-year cornerback Kendall Fuller to Kansas City. Swearinger was initially upset Washington traded away the "best No. 1 slot corner" in the league, but said Monday he's "extremely over it."

"You never want to see that. But it's a blessing in disguise. Everything happens for a reason and we're moving forward from it," Swearinger said, adding he's ready to embrace Smith in D.C. "I think we can be better.

"I don't know what Alex as a leadership standpoint brings, but I hear he is a great player. I see he is a great player. He's done a lot of great things in this league. A Pro Bowlguy and I can't wait to get with him and get some championships going."

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Ron Clements