Kirk Cousins: Redskins' trade for Smith 'came as surprise'

Soon-to-be free agent Kirk Cousins says the Washington Redskins acquiring quarterback Alex Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs came "as a surprise."

The Redskins and Chiefs agreed to a trade for Smith on Tuesday night. Washington will receive Smith once the trade is official when the new NFL business year begins March 14.

In return, the Chiefs will receive cornerback Kendall Fuller along with a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

"I was working out at my hotel here in Indianapolis, and when the workout ended, I had a long list of text messages and people reaching out," Cousins recalled in an interview with NFL Network on Friday. "A bunch of friends who said, 'Did you hear the news? Did you hear the news? So I quickly found out what had happened.

"The next day [the Redskins] reached out and just kind of explained what happened."

Cousins will become a free agent at the start of the league year.

"I was certainly surprised, and I knew it was gonna be a tough decision for me if it came down to deciding what to do in free agency," Cousins told ESPN while making the rounds for more interviews Friday along Radio Row at the Super Bowl. "The fact that the decision was essentially made for me, it gave me a little bit of relief. But it was certainly tough emotionally to know I was leaving a city where I have so many memories."

The 29-year-old Cousins threw for 4,093 yards and 27 touchdowns with 13 interceptions this season for the Redskins.

"[Free agency is] a unique experience that may only happen one time in my career," Cousins told SiriusXM. "As a result, we want to enjoy it, take full advantage, make sure to make the right decision. We don't know how it's going to end so it's hard to say right now, but I certainly do look forward to the opportunity if it comes."

Washington used the franchise tag on Cousins, a fourth-round pick in 2012, each of the previous two offseasons. He started the last three seasons and topped 4,000 yards each time. The Redskins have to decide whether to use another tag on him at a cost of $34.5 million (franchise) or $28.7 (transition). In light of the Smith trade, it appears that decision has been made.

Cousins said he was glad to hear players lobby their teams for him.

Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller earlier this week said he believes Cousins "could take us over the edge."

"Anytime you hear positive things from your peers it means a great deal," Cousins told USA Today. "It shows there are a lot of great options and hopefully we can find the best possible fit."

--Field Level Media