Feb 29, 2016 3 min read

NEW YORK – If the Washington Redskins decide to place the franchise tag on quarterback Kirk Cousins, it will cost them $19.95 million for 2016 under the values agreed upon by the NFL and the players’ union.

Cousins is one of the more high-profile players whose contracts have expired, and quarterbacks carry the biggest tag numbers.

The franchise designation is worth the average of the top five salaries at a player’s position or 120 percent of the value of his 2015 salary, whichever is higher. Teams secure the rights to continue negotiations with that player even as the league’s free agency period begins, which this year is March 9.

Teams have until today to use the franchise or transition tag on a scheduled free agent.

The salary cap for next season is $155.27 million, an increase of about $12 million per team from 2015.

The next most expensive position for a franchise tag is defensive end at $15.7 million, according to numbers made official Monday. Wide receivers would cost just under $14.6 million, followed by linebackers ($14.1 million), cornerbacks (just under $14 million) and offensive linemen ($13.7 million).

Defensive tackles ($13.6 million), running backs ($11.78 million), safeties ($10.8 million), tight ends ($9.1 million) and punters/kickers ($4.57 million) follow.

The Jets will be placing the franchise tag on DE Muhammad Wilkerson, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press Monday. Baltimore has tagged kicker Justin Tucker and Chicago tagged wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.

Another top player whose contract is up and is likely to get franchise tagged is linebacker Von Miller, the Super Bowl MVP for Denver.

Transition tag numbers call for quarterbacks to receive $17.696 million, followed by defensive ends at $12.734 million.

A transition tag allows the player to negotiate with other teams, but his current club has the right of first refusal to match any offer.

Other transition tags: wide receiver, $12,268 million; linebacker, $11.925 million; cornerback, $11.913 million; offensive linemen, $11.902 million; defensive tackle, $10.875 million; running back, $9.647 million; safety,$9.116 million; tight end,$7.713 million; and punter/kicker. $4.123 million.

Brady reportedly agrees to 2-year extension: Tom Brady reportedly has agreed to a two-year contract extension with the New England Patriots.

The deal will significantly lessen Brady’s salary cap hit for 2016, which would have been about $15 million. He was due to make $9 million next season, plus a $6 million bonus, and $10 million in salary in 2017.

Brady, 38, has often redone his contract to help the Patriots’ cap situation. The four-time Super Bowl champion has said he plans to play well into his 40s. The extension would allow him to do so in New England.

The agreement was first reported by ESPN.

Brady also renegotiated his contract in 2013 to help reduce cap hits. New England was $13.6 million under the 2016 cap of $155.27 million before extending Brady.

Brady, of course, is an all-time great who could wind up the NFL’s leader in many career passing categories. He’s been to six Super Bowls and 10 AFC title games, including the last five.

Some would say he is underpaid for the position given the championship pedigree and his two league MVP awards to go with three Super Bowl MVPs.

In 2015, his cap hit of $14 million ranked 14th in the league, behind the likes of Colin Kaepernick and Jay Cutler. He might not rank even that high in 2016.