kelly Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 The NFL's offseason has arrived, hopefully sparing us from overwrought takes on Cam Newton'snews conference behavior and Beyonce's halftime song selection.Tuesday marks the first day that teams can place the franchise or transition tag on prospective free agents. March 1 is the deadline for clubs to designate franchise or transition players. With the recent salary-cap bumps, the number of tags has decreased from a high of 21 in 2012. Just six players have drawn the franchise or transition tags in each of the past two years. With help from NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, our annual franchise tag predictions are below. No-brainers 1. Von Miller, Denver Broncos pass rusher: Coming off one of the best two-game stretches in postseason history, Miller is poised to become the highest-paid defensive player in football. The Broncos' preference, per NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, is to apply the franchise tag, then try to work out a long-term deal.One twist for Denver is the impact that Miller's tag could have on the future of Brock Osweiler, who is also scheduled to reach free agency. It's better for Osweiler's future to remain on a Super Bowl contender with a coaching staff he knows, but will the two sides find common ground on his price tag as Peyton Manning's successor? 2. Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskinsquarterback: General manager Scot McCloughan said last month that he would rather work out a long-term contract, but acknowledged the franchise tag is an option at a projected $19.6 million. Cousins will be McCloughan's top priority of the offseason after settingRedskins single-season records for passing yards (4,166) and total touchdowns (34), while leading the NFL in completion percentage (69.8) and finishing fifth in passer rating (101.6). 3. Josh Norman, Carolina Panthers cornerback:General manager Dave Gettleman isn't tipping his hand on plans for Norman, but did say he isn't shy about using the franchise tag if necessary. He made a similar move two years ago, slapping Greg Hardy with the franchise tag in what ultimately became the pass rusher's final season in Charlotte. According to projections from NFL Media's Albert Breer, tagging Norman would cost the Panthers roughly $13.7 million. It's not a bad idea for a 28-year-old cornerback coming off an All-Pro campaign. 4. Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears wide receiver: The Bears were frustrated by Jeffery's 2015 injuries, but they also understand he's one of the most productive receivers in the league when healthy. General manager Ryan Pace hasn't ruled out the franchise tag and might decide that's the best approach, buying time for a longer contract. Voting yes 5. Muhammed Wilkerson, New York Jets defensive end: The Jets are prepared for his departure after drafting Leonard Williams in the first round last year, but NFL teams don't often let difference-makers of Wilkerson's caliber walk out of the building without compensation. Defensive tackle Damon "Snacks" Harrison also is poised to reach free agency.On the heels of his best season, Wilkerson would collect a projected $15.4 million in 2016 if tagged by the Jets. Would a sign-and-trade be an option? The last time we saw a trade of that nature theChiefs sent an early second-round pick to the Patriots for Matt Cassel.The Jets are more likely to reach agreement with Ryan Fitzpatrick, who understands his best opportunity for sustained success is throwing to Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker in an offense that plays to his strengths under coordinator Chan Gailey. 6. Cordy Glenn, Buffalo Bills tackle:Glenn might not be a household name, but he has been one of the best, young blindside protectors in the NFL over the past three seasons. General manager Doug Whaley has stated that it's "imperative" to keep Buffalo's offensive line intact for a team that relies on a strong rushing attack. 7. Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back: The Bucs have already begun contract talks with Martin, but the 2015 All-Pro remains unsigned. Although Martin has professed his love for Tampa, he also realizes he holds some leverage coming off a career year. The franchise tag for running backs is expected to be a $11.5 million, a figure the Buccaneers can afford with plenty of salary-cap space available. 8. Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs safety: The Comeback Player of the Year recaptured pre-cancer form, earning his fourth career Pro Bowl selection on a Chiefs team that closed out the season with 10 consecutive wins. The roster is built to win now, which makes it a priority to keep a player of Berry's caliber. The Chiefs already have ramped up contract talks with Berry, which could free up the franchise tag for Pro Bowl inside linebacker Derrick Johnson, who will turn 34 years old during the 2016 season. 9. Olivier Vernon, Miami Dolphins defensive end: Prior to midseason of 2015, the franchise tag might have seemed like a stretch for Vernon. The 26-year-old pass rusher closed out the season with a torrid two months, though, racking up an astounding 24 QB hits over the final eight games. Vernon finished with the highest grade among 4-3 defense ends in Pro Football Focus' 2015 ratings, edging out Cameron Jordan and Michael Bennett. If the Dolphins let him reach the open market, he's going to break the bank. Questionable 10. Keleche Osemele, Baltimore Ravens guard:In Osemele and perennial Pro Bowler Marshal Yanda, the Ravens have boasted the NFL's most dominant guard tandem the past two seasons. Osemele, 26, is a massive run blocker with the versatility to kick outside to tackle and hold his own in a pinch. Would Baltimore be willing to pay him left tackle money at $13.5 million for one season? If not, general manager Ozzie Newsome could opt to use the franchise tag on kicker extraordinaireJustin Tucker. 11. Reggie Nelson, Cincinnati Bengals safety: Strong safety George Iloka is also scheduled for free agency, leaving the Bengals in a bind. Nelson is coming off his first Pro Bowl selection after tying for a league-high eight interceptions. Because he turns 33 early in the 2016 season, Cincinnati could reason that he's worth the relatively reasonable $10.6-million franchise tag to keep the secondary intact for one more season. Unlikely 12. Russell Okung, Seattle Seahawks tackle: Seattle's offensive line is in such dire straits that Okung could end up getting overpaid as an inconsistent pass protector. The franchise tag seemed a more viable route before Okung dislocated his shoulder in the season-ending loss to the Panthers. Okung has emailed all 32 clubs to inform them of his impending surgery, which requires a five-month recovery period. Kickers Justin Tucker, Greg Zuerlein, Mason Crosby, Phil Dawson, Adam Vinatieri, Josh Brown Kickers are always decent bets for the franchise tag because the price is so reasonable. Zuerlein has one of the biggest legs in the game. Tucker is money with the game on the line. Crosby has bounced back with three excellent seasons in a row after a shaky 2012 campaign. Dawson and Vinatieri are pictures of reliability. Brown is coming off the best three-year stretch by a kicker in Giants history. Punters Marquette King, Bryan Anger, Jon Ryan, Shane Lechler King led the league in punts down and finished second in punts inside the 20-yard line. He and Anger are two of the NFL's best young punters while Ryan and Lechler are veteran stalwarts. > http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000635791/article/franchise-tag-primer-miller-cousins-top-candidates Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 15, 2016 Author Share Posted February 15, 2016 Tuesday is the first day teams are permitted to use the franchise or transition tag on a player. The deadline is March 1 (4 p.m. ET), creating a two-week window in which to negotiate a long-term contract. There might be some drama with other teams, but not the New York Jets, who plan to use the franchise tag on defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson. It has been moving in this direction for more than a year, as the two sides haven't come close to a new contract.What makes the Wilkerson situation interesting is what could happen after he receives the tag -- i.e. a possible trade. Our job is to explain it all to you. Q: Why tag Wilkerson? A: Let's speak the language of general manager Mike Maccagnan, who was an economics major in college. Wilkerson is a valuable asset, and the organization must protect that asset by making it almost impossible for Wilkerson to sign elsewhere. He'd draw more interest on the open market than the Jets' other top free agents, and they simply can't allow another team to sign him away. Q: How much will it cost? A: The amount still hasn't been announced by the league, but the projection for a defensive end is $15.5 million, based on a $154 million salary cap. That's assuming he receives the "non-exclusive" tag, which allows the player to negotiate with other teams. If the player signs an offer sheet with another team, the tagging team has five days to match. If it declines, it receives two first-round draft picks as compensation. In the unlikely event he gets the "exclusive" tag, which costs a little more, he wouldn't be permitted to talk to other teams. Q: Can the Jets afford the franchise tag? A: Well, not exactly. Right now, they figure to be approximately $14 million under the cap, so they'll have to create additional room by releasing a player (or players) and/or re-working a contract or two. But, remember, there's a two-week window, so there's no sense of urgency to dump salary. Q: When was the last time the Jets used the franchise tag? A: It was only two years ago. What, you already forgot about Nick Folk? The veteran kicker was coming off a terrific year, and the Jets didn't want to risk losing him. The strategy worked. A couple of weeks later, they locked him up with a four-year, $12 million contract. Q: Could the Wilkerson situation be wrapped up that quickly? A: Don't bet on it. The two sides have been talking on and off since 2014, when John Idzik was the GM, but it doesn't seem like they've made much progress. Wilkerson, 26, is one of the top defensive linemen in the league, and he wants a contract that puts him near the top of the salary structure. From all indications, he's looking for something in the Marcell Dareus neighborhood -- six years, $95 million. That contract included $42.9 million guaranteed at signing and a total of $60 million in guarantees. Q: Is a tag-and-trade a possibility? A: League insiders believe the Jets will be willing to listen to offers for Wilkerson, which shouldn't come as a surprise. Don't forget, they shopped him during last year's draft. A tag-and-trade is hard to pull off because it requires a team willing to meet the player's contract demands and surrender significant compensation to the tagging team. It'll be particularly tough this year because the draft is deep with defensive linemen. The Oakland Raiders, who have a ton of cap room, might be willing to talk trade, CBS Sports has reported. They own the 14th pick, which could tempt the Jets. Q: Is it a good idea to trade Wilkerson? A: No, it's not. The Jets should be collecting good players, not pushing them out the door. Yes, they have a lot of money tied up in the defensive line -- the number will grow if they re-sign Damon Harrison -- but Wilkerson was their best defensive player. The current narrative that last year's pass rush wasn't good enough, and that Wilkerson should be dealt for a pass-rushing linebacker, is a bunch of hooey. The Jets' four-man rush was fourth in pressure percentage and sixth in sack percentage, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The objective should be to sign their leading pass-rusher, not get rid of him. Q: How will this drama play out? A: By rule, the sides have until July 15 to hammer out a long-term agreement. If they don't, Wilkerson will play the 2016 season for the amount of the franchise tag -- which is our prediction. Five players got the franchise tag last year -- Dez Bryant, Stephen Gostkowski, Justin Houston, Jason Pierre-Paul and Demaryius Thomas. JPP was the only one who didn't land a long-term deal. > http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/58443/analyzing-jets-tag-decision-and-why-it-makes-sense-to-keep-mo-wilkerson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 15, 2016 Author Share Posted February 15, 2016 We've laughed. We've cried. We've argued. And now it's time to end the comedown from Super Bowl 50. The NFL will turn its full attention this week to 2016 roster building, after all, so we might as well go along with it. First up : On Tuesday, teams can begin applying the franchise or transition tags. (They will have until 4 p.m. ET on March 1 to make that decision, but a guy can dream, right?) Below is everything a reasonably well-adjusted person could possibly want to know about the NFL tag system and how tags might affect the 2016 offseason, from projected numbers to likely candidates to historic background data researched at great length by Matt Willis of ESPN Stats & Information. (Great for prop bets!). There are actually three tags, right? Ah, yes. There is an exclusive-rights franchise tag that completely binds the player to his team. His agent is prohibited from seeking an offer sheet.There is a nonexclusive franchise tag that allows the player to sign an offer sheet with another team. The original team has the right to match the offer or receive two first-round draft picks in compensation if the player leaves. The transition tag works like the nonexclusive franchise tag, except it only provides the original team the right to match the other team's offer. If the original team decides not to offer a matching bid, it gets no compensation when the player leaves. Remind me how the tag values are calculated, please and thank you. The franchise tag value is the average of the top five salaries at a player's position, or 120 percent of a player's previous salary, whichever is greater. The transition tag is worth the average of the top 10 salaries at the player's position. Why haven't I seen the official tag values yet? Because the NFL hasn't completed them. Part of the calculations include the value of the annual salary cap, which has not yet been determined. So any team considering a tag must look at recent history and make an educated guess what the salary cap will be. The chart is a version of one estimate making the rounds among NFL teams, which projects the cap at $154 million for 2016. It aligns with a set of projectionspublished in November by former agent Joel Corry for CBSSports.com Who are the likely candidates? Some teams are more likely to use the tag system than others, as we'll see in a moment. But with another big cap rise expected this spring, teams know there is a real chance their stars will be pursued by rivals with tens of millions of dollars in cap space to burn. Remember, it was only a year ago that the Miami Dolphins pounced on defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh after the Detroit Lions failed to tag him, signing Suh to a six-year deal worth $114 million. This year, the most attractive pending free agents -- and thus the likeliest tag candidates -- include : Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman New York Jets defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Cordy Glenn Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Andre Smith Baltimore Ravens place-kicker Justin Tucker There is usually a surprise or two in there every year. And if the Broncos sign Miller to a long-term deal before the tag deadline, they might consider a tag on quarterback Brock Osweiler. What happens next? Once a player is tagged, the sides have until July 15 to sign a long-term contract or, by NFL rule, the player must go through the 2016 regular season on a one-year deal. Then the sides are back where they started, unless part of the one-year agreement is to not use the tag in 2017. What usually happens in these situations? The tag was first instituted in 1993 and has survived many different markets and operating philosophies. The chart shows its history over the last four years. Half of the 38 players tagged since 2012 have signed long-term deals by the July 15 deadline. The rest either played out the season on the franchise tag or -- as in the case last year of New York Giantsdefensive Jason Pierre-Paul -- experienced unusual circumstances. You were saying that some teams use tags more often? I was. But that could be the result of skill level more than philosophy. The Indianapolis Colts have used the franchise tag an NFL-high 11 times since 1993, followed by the Seattle Seahawks (10). TheNew England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs have used it nine times apiece. On the other hand, the Houston Texans-- who began play in 2002 -- have used it only once. TheAtlanta Falcons(two) used it fewer times than any team that was in business in 1993. How has the rising cap affected franchise tag use? Between 1993-2013, NFL teams used the tag an average of 9.25 times per offseason. In 2012 alone, it was used 21 times. But amid quickly rising cap numbers in 2014 and 2015, teams were flush with cap space and were more aggressive in their pursuit of long-term deals, so they were less likely to use the franchise tag to lock players up for just one year. The tag has been used nine times in the past two seasons combined. Do certain positions get tagged more often? Why, yes. Generally speaking, teams tag players with the skill sets that would be most attractive on the open market. Setting aside quarterbacks, who don't often reach this point in the process, we have seen more offensive linemen (especially pass-protecting tackles) tagged than any other position. Of the 29 offensive linemen tagged since 1993, 23 are tackles. Next are defensive ends and linebackers, usually pass-rushers, at 25. There have been only eight quarterbacks tagged in the history of the system, fewer than all positions except punter (four). Anything else? Not for today. The quick onset of the offseason can be rough for everyone. We'll get through this together. > http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/198234/everything-youve-ever-wanted-to-know-about-nfl-franchise-tags Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainejet Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 I hope Oakland opts to go after Wilk in a tag and trade scenario. I would take a 1st and 2nd round draft choice for him and I think that might very well be possible. Not that I want to see Wilk walk out the door, but I know at this point there's no chance he gets signed by the Jets. They need to get what they can get for him. The DL of the Jets also just happens to be possibly the most well stocked in regards to talent. If the Jets can pull off a trade it leaves them sitting pretty to resign guys Snacks and Bilal Powell. It also leaves them sitting pretty for the draft. I could see the Jets using Oakland's 1st round draft choice on a very special assuming Lynch or Wentz fell to 14. Then, I could see many scenarios where the Jets opt to trade down with their 20th overall accumulating more picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. It truly sucks parting ways with Wilk, but if they aren't going to reach an agreement with him this is the next best scenario. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 On Tuesday, NFL teams can begin placing the franchise tag on their most important free agent. They have until 4 p.m. ET on March 1 to designate a franchise player. For more on how franchise tags work, check out this story by Kevin Seifert. Below, NFL Nation reporters predict which teams will use the franchise tag and which players are most likely to be tagged. AFC EAST Buffalo Bills: The most likely candidate is 26-year-old left tackleCordy Glenn. The Bills don't have a player ready to replace Glenn if he signs elsewhere, so the team has made re-signing him a top priority. If the two sides can't reach a long-term deal, the franchise tag should remain a fall-back option. -- Mike Rodak Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins will not use the franchise tag. The team is tight on the projected salary cap and must make significant roster cuts before free agency begins. Miami also doesn't have strong free-agent candidates on which to use the franchise tag. Defensive end Olivier Vernon and running back Lamar Miller are the team's top free agents, but neither player expects to get tagged. -- James Walker New England Patriots: Unlike last season, when the Patriots used the tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski before striking a long-term deal, there is no one among the team's free-agent class who comes close to warranting that consideration. Essentially, the team's tagged players are 2012 first-round draft picks Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower, who currently have high cap numbers as part of the fifth-year options on their rookie deals. --Mike Reiss New York Jets: It would be a major upset if defensive endMuhammad Wilkerson doesn't get the franchise tag. Wilkerson, only 26, would be one of the top unrestricted free agents if he's allowed to hit the open market. But that won't happen. The front office considers him a major asset, and it will protect that asset by tagging him. Don't be surprised, however, if they explore a tag-and-trade scenario. -- Rich Cimini AFC NORTH Baltimore Ravens: All expectations are that kicker Justin Tuckerwill get the franchise tag if the Ravens can't reach a long-term deal with him before March 1. Baltimore isn't going to let the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history walk in free agency. Plus, tags on kickers and punters are a projected $4.5 million, which is easily the cheapest among all positions. The tag is typically a way to extend negotiations for Baltimore. The Ravens have used the franchise tag on five players in the past, and they have ended up signing long-term deals with the past four. -- Jamison Hensley Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals are unlikely to use the franchise tag this year since they don't have the type of free agents that would warrant such a lucrative one-year deal. Many of the Bengals' 15 free agents are valued veterans who likely will draw short-term deals as they begin signing the final contract or two of their careers. Others, like 2012 drafteesMarvin Jones and George Iloka, simply haven't had the production in recent years to warrant the type of money they would be handed as the franchise player. (There was a thought before A.J. Green agreed to his long-term deal last preseason that he would have been a legitimate candidate for a franchise tag had he still been looking for a new contract this offseason.) -- Coley Harvey Cleveland Browns: The Browns have no player worthy of the franchise tag. The team's dearth of overall top-level talent and the fact that the Browns moved some salary cap from this year to next makes using the tag illogical. -- Pat McManamon Pittsburgh Steelers: The franchise tag isn't even a mild consideration for the Steelers, whose free-agency pool is low on star power. The team will value role-playing free agents such as cornerback William Gay and guard Ramon Foster, but these veterans can return on two- or three-year contracts at reasonable money. The Steelers rarely use the franchise tag, opting to sign their star players before they hit the open market. -- Jeremy Fowler AFC SOUTH Houston Texans: The Texans have some free agents they should prioritize, but I don't believe they will feel pressed to use the tag on any of them. The Texans would only use the franchise tag as a last resort, and they don't use it often. The last time they used it was in 2008, when they tagged cornerback Dunta Robinson. -- Tania Ganguli Indianapolis Colts: It's highly unlikely that the Colts will use the franchise tag on any of their free agents, because they don't have any marquee players they can't afford to lose. Kicker Adam Vinatieri, tight end Coby Fleener and linebacker Jerrell Freeman are the Colts' main free agents. All three are replaceable. -- Mike Wells Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars have 11 impending free agents, and the best of them are backup quarterback Chad Henne and tight end Marcedes Lewis, so the team isn't going to use the franchise tag. The biggest decision facing the Jaguars regarding one of their own players is whether or not to pick up the fifth-year option on left tackle Luke Joeckel. --Mike DiRocco Tennessee Titans: The Titans' two best free agents-to-be are not franchise-tag caliber. Al Woods played well at nose tackle in his second year in the Titans' system. Tight end Craig Stevens stayed healthy and is a quality blocker who can make some catches. But the Titans are not in a situation where they need the tag's help. -- Paul Kuharsky AFC WEST Denver Broncos: Linebacker Von Miller will almost certainly get the franchise tag. The Broncos want to keep their Super Bowl MVP, who is still an ascending player and coming into his own, both in the locker room and on the defense. The Broncos will work toward a long-term deal that will likely make Miller the highest-paid defensive player in the league; and to get the extra time they need to do that, they will use the franchise tag on him. The previous three players the Broncos used the franchise tag on (Matt Prater,Ryan Clady and Demaryius Thomas) all got long-term deals before training camp opened. -- Jeff Legwold Kansas City Chiefs: Safety Eric Berry is the obvious candidate. The Chiefs have been working toward securing a long-term contract with Berry before the deadline to issue the franchise tag. Naming him as the franchise player would buy the sides more time to agree on a new contract. If a new contract is in place by then, the Chiefs probably won't name a franchise player, though it would make a lot of sense for them to retain young defensive lineman Jaye Howard, who is a free agent. -- Adam Teicher Oakland Raiders: At about $41 million under the league's spending minimum, the Raiders need to be big spenders this offseason. What better way than to slap a franchise tag on left tackle Donald Penn? Last year's franchise number for an offensive lineman was just over $12.9 million and, with a bigger salary cap, is expected to be as much as $500,000 higher. Penn has been a durable blind-side protector for quarterback Derek Carr. -- Paul Gutierrez San Diego Chargers: The Chargers do not have a player worth using the franchise tag on in free agency. Safety Eric Weddle will be allowed to hit the free-agent market. And although still productive, tight end Antonio Gates, who turns 36 this summer, is at the end of his career. Young tight end Ladarius Green could find a market in free agency, but he has been injured and too inconsistent to command the use of the franchise tag. --Eric D. Williams NFC EAST Dallas Cowboys: Unlike last year, when the Cowboys used the franchise tag on wide receiver Dez Bryant, they don't have a player worth using the tag on this year. Defensive end Greg Hardy had it written into the deal he signed last offseason that the Cowboys could not use the tag on him in 2016. Since he had just six sacks in 12 games last season, the Cowboys would not have put such a big financial claim into Hardy anyway. --Todd Archer New York Giants: I do not expect the Giants to use their franchise tag. None of their free agents are worth the one-year price at this point. They can't pay defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul $15 million when they don't know the condition of his hand. They can't pay cornerbackPrince Amukamara $14 million. If they use it at all, my guess is it would be to keep kicker Josh Brown off the market if they've decided to re-sign him and don't have a deal done by the deadline. But more than likely, they won't use it. --Dan Graziano Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles have an unhappy history with the franchise tag, twice applying it to players (linebacker Jeremiah Trotter and defensive tackle Corey Simon) and then rescinding it and losing the players in free agency. The only player who could cause the team to use the tag this year is quarterback Sam Bradford -- only if the Eagles decide they aren't ready to commit to a long-term deal. -- Phil Sheridan Washington Redskins: Quarterback Kirk Cousins is the only Redskins player worthy of the franchise tag. It would not be surprising to see the Redskins use it on him, but the team will continue to try to hammer out a long-term deal. The two sides have been talking for a few weeks, though they weren't close at the beginning of the talks. -- John Keim NFC NORTH Chicago Bears: In the absence of a long-term deal, receiver Alshon Jeffery is the obvious choice to receive the franchise tag. Chicago simply can't afford to let him walk away. Despite battling injuries throughout 2015 -- he played in only nine games -- Jeffery still caught 54 passes for 807 yards and four touchdowns. A former Pro Bowl selection, Jeffery is only the fourth player in team history to compile consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Plus, he's only 25 years old. This one is a no-brainer. The Bears prefer to sign players to multiyear deals for salary-cap purposes, but expect the organization to use the franchise tag to keep Jeffery, if necessary. -- Jeff Dickerson Detroit Lions: The Lions are unlikely to use the franchise tag on any free agents this offseason. Most of the players who have expiring contracts can either be signed for less or have expressed a desire to return to Detroit, so there's no need for the Lions to use it. -- Michael Rothstein Green Bay Packers: The only possible candidate for the franchise tag is kicker Mason Crosby, but general manager Ted Thompson probably won't use it. He has used the franchise tag only twice -- in 2008 on Corey Williams, who he then traded to the Browns; and in 2010 on Ryan Pickett, who eventually agreed on a long-term deal. The Packers should be able to get a deal done with Crosby without using the tag. -- Rob Demovsky Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings' most prominent free agents are veterans such as 33-year-old Chad Greenway and 37-year-old Terence Newman, making it a virtual certainty they won't use the franchise tag. They exercised fifth-year options on left tackle Matt Kalil and safetyHarrison Smith, and they already finished extensions with wide receiver Jarius Wright and kicker Blair Walsh, so most of the team's would-be free agents from the 2012 draft class are locked up. -- Ben Goessling NFC SOUTH Atlanta Falcons: I don't anticipate the Falcons using the franchise tag because none of their 12 unrestricted free agents warrants it. Maybe it's something that could come into play after the 2017 season, when running back Devonta Freeman's contract is up -- if Freeman continues to ascend. -- Vaughn McClure Carolina Panthers: If the Panthers can't reach a long-term deal with cornerback Josh Norman, they likely will use the franchise tag on him. General manager Dave Gettleman admitted that was an option in his season-ending interview. The tag would cost the Panthers between $13 million and $14 million. -- David Newton New Orleans Saints: The Saints won't use their franchise tag. The one good thing about their tight salary-cap situation is that they don't have any premier free agents that will break the bank. Tight endBenjamin Watson, running back Tim Hightower and safety Rafael Bush could be among their top priorities to re-sign. They might actually have to spend more to keep restricted free agents like running back Khiry Robinson and guard Tim Lelito. -- Mike Triplett Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs are trying to work out a deal with running back Doug Martin, who resurrected his career by finishing No. 2 in the NFL in rushing in 2015 with 1,402 yards, but they could use the franchise tag on him if they can't reach a long-term agreement. Martin, quarterback Jameis Winston and wide receiver Mike Evansgive the Bucs' offense a solid core of young players around which new coach Dirk Koetter can build. -- Mike DiRocco NFC WEST Arizona Cardinals: I don't expect the Cardinals to use their franchise tag this season because, simply put, the team has no unrestricted free agents who are worth it. As coach Bruce Arians and general manager Steve Keim have shown, they can fill voids well during free agency or through the draft, and none of the irreplaceable stars are scheduled to be free agents this year. -- Josh Weinfuss Los Angeles Rams: The Rams are unlikely to use their franchise tag, but there is a possibility they could use the transition tag on one of their pending free-agent cornerbacks -- Janoris Jenkins orTrumaine Johnson. They want to keep both but might need to take steps to ensure that, at minimum, one of them remains a Ram and under team control. -- Nick Wagoner San Francisco 49ers: I can't really see the Niners slapping the franchise tag on anyone because, well, that's not their style. Still, nose tackle Ian Williams could be a candidate, and last year, the number for a tag on a defensive tackle was just over $11.1 million. Williams is coming off his best season as a pro -- he stayed healthy and played in 16 games for the first time after playing in a combined 15 games over his first four seasons -- so he is presumably someone the Niners would want to keep around. -- Paul Gutierrez Seattle Seahawks: It's highly unlikely that the Seahawks use their franchise tag this year. Their top free agents are left tackle Russell Okung and linebacker Bruce Irvin. Both players are expected to test free agency and could end up signing elsewhere. From a financial perspective, it doesn't make sense for the Seahawks to use the tag on either guy. -- Sheil Kapadia > http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/32for32x160216/franchise-tag-predictions-all-nfl-32-teams-von-miller-alshon-jeffery-likely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 Teams can begin applying the franchise tag today, but it doesn’t appear the Eagles are in any hurry to participate.According to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News, the Eagles aren’t expected to use either the franchise or transition tag to squat on the rights of quarterback Sam Bradford, setting the stage for him to hit the free agent market. While they have a glaring hole in their depth chart if they don’t retain Bradford, they apparently don’t consider it enough of one to justify paying Bradford around $20 million for one year.Bradford looked reasonably proficient at times last year, and would likely draw interest on the free agent market. But with the Eagles working to lock up a number of young players to long-term deals, having Bradford sitting there as a $20 million anchor on the cap could prevent some of the moves they want to make. Of course, that means they’d have to find someone to replace him, since it’s unlikely they view Mark Sanchez as the answer.New coach Doug Pederson has background with Chiefs backup quarterback Chase Daniel, but the market isn’t exactly flush with answers. > http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/02/16/eagles-arent-expected-to-franchise-tag-sam-bradford/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gas2No99 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Jets GM Mike Maccagnan said free agent NT Damon Harrison could be franchise tagged. Harrison would only be a candidate if DE Muhammad Wilkerson signs an extension. One of the top run stoppers in the league, Harrison is going to be in high demand if he hits the market. Tagging Harrison would cost the Jets $13.4M. Source: Newark Star-Ledger Feb 24 - 4:11 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gas2No99 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Jets' Muhammad Wilkerson, Damon Harrison 'both' options for franchise tag New York Jets nose tackle Damon Harrison (94) walks on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) (Ben Margot) PrintEmail By Dom Cosentino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on February 24, 2016 at 3:53 PM, updated February 24, 2016 at 5:20 PM INDIANAPOLIS — The deadline for NFL teams to apply the franchise tag to one player—if they so choose—is Tuesday at 4 p.m. The most obvious candidate to be tagged by the Jets is star defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson. 2016 NFL Combine preview 2/24/16Jets beat reporter Dom Cosentino gives a quick update on what to expect Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. (Video by Dom Cosentino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) But at the NFL Combine in Lucas Oil Stadium here Wednesday, general manager Mike Maccagnan floated the possibility of nose tackle Damon Harrison getting tagged instead. "Not to really speculate or anything, I would say, realistically, they're both options," Maccagnan said. "I think at the end of the day we probably [would] have to decide one of the two. I don't really want to tip our hand [as to] which one we would do that with." Wilkerson, coming off a 12-sack season, has established himself as one of the league's best 3-4 defensive ends. He will almost certainly get a huge payday if he were to hit the open market once the new league year begins March 9. MORE: What to expect for Jets at combine But the Jets could prevent Wilkerson from negotiating with another team by tagging him, and because of that it's been widely assumed—and previously acknowledged by Maccagnan—that that's the route the Jets might take. Jets draft prospects to watch at NFL CombineNorth Dakota State's Carson Wentz and Ohio State's Taylor Decker are among the prospects the Jets should be monitoring at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. 2/17/16 (Video by Darryl Slater | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) The Jets have an estimated $20 million in salary-cap space, but the franchise tag for Wilkerson could eat up $15.4 million of that. The Jets can still free up additional cap space with cuts and contract restructures, but tagging Harrison instead would still cost a hefty estimate of $13.4 million. Harrison is an excellent run-stopper who also could command a big contract on the open market, but he only played about half the defensive snaps in 2015. Tagging Harrison would mean the Jets could still negotiate a long-term deal with Harrison that wouldn't necessarily commit them to absorbing a $13 million cap hit on him this year. Then again, this could all be a smoke screen, too. As to when might a decision be made in the next six days, Maccagnan wouldn't elaborate. "The rest of the NFL is trying to figure out who's going to get tagged, because it affects who isn't going to get tagged," Maccagnan said. "So, from a competitive advantage standpoint, this will unfold here at some point in time in the near future." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SenorGato Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Quote I don't really want to tip our hand [as to] which one we would do that with. Yeah, it's definitely a big unsolvable mystery. $13+ million for a guy on the field half the time, for the run no less, seems like a Jets-esque move, but even this franchise can't be that dumb. Can they, STILL? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sperm Edwards Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 2 hours ago, SenorGato said: Yeah, it's definitely a big unsolvable mystery. $13+ million for a guy on the field half the time, for the run no less, seems like a Jets-esque move, but even this franchise can't be that dumb. Can they, STILL? This one I'll agree with you on. Despite all the talk and comments suggesting it's a possibility, I don't see any way Damon Harrison gets slapped with the franchise tag. If they did he'd be an incredible fool for agreeing to negotiate a long term deal after getting tagged. Not until a year later anyway, because that franchise tag amount is probably not far off the amount of guaranteed money he'd get on a long term deal anyway. Play out the year at $13M+ for one year then hit free agency again and get another $10M+ guaranteed. Translation: there's a 0% chance the Jets franchise tag Harrison. Particularly since he's said himself he's not "greedy" and wants to remain with the Jets. Whatever "not greedy" means specifically is a guess, but it certainly means he's not holding all spring/summer until he gets well into an 8-figure/year rate. They could surely lock him up at $8M if they were so desperate to re-sign him, but likely want to pay him a good amount less than that. In any scenario remotely close to that, no franchise tags that player at over $13M guaranteed for 1 season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gas2No99 Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 GOD DAMN IT!!!!! NOT GOOD NEWS!!!!!!! Muhammad Wilkerson - DL - Jets According to the New York Daily News, free agent RE Muhammed Wilkerson is "all but guaranteed" to get the Jets' franchise tag, and will "likely" be shopped in a "tag-and-trade" deal before April's draft. "We have an idea internally what we're probably or potentially going to do," GM Mike Maccagnan said. "But at this point in time, we don't really want show our cards." The deadline for NFL teams to tag free agents is next Tuesday, March 1. Wilkerson's tag will cost $15-$16 million, but any team that wants to acquire him via trade would certainly prefer to work out a long-term deal first. The Jets should be able to get a first-round pick for Wilkerson, who is only 26 and has finished as a top-five 3-4 defensive end at Pro Football Focus in back-to-back seasons. Source: New York Daily News Feb 24 - 8:37 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 25, 2016 Author Share Posted February 25, 2016 The biggest challenge facing the New York Jets this offseason is finding a way to retain pending free agents Muhammad Wilkerson and Damon Harrison, the longest-tenured members of the Big Four defensive line. On Wednesday, coach Todd Bowles made it sound like the gang will remain together for at least another year."We're optimistic," Bowles at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. "We're working through it. Hopefully, something will come of it. We know it's a business at the same time. We have certain plans in place, but our plans are to keep them." General manager Mike Maccagnan, adding a wrinkle to the situation, suggested they could use the franchise tag on Harrison. With the March 1 deadline approaching, Maccagnan said Harrison and Wilkerson are "both options" for the franchise tag. Previously, the speculation focused entirely on Wilkerson.I'm not buying the Harrison angle. It smells of posturing by the Jets, who clearly want to use the threat of the tag as leverage in negotiations with both players.In the end, Wilkerson will get the tag, assuming the two sides don't reach an agreement. If they strike a deal before March 1 (don't bet on it), they could tag Harrison, but even that would be a financial stretch. The projected amount for a defensive tackle is $13.4 million, an exorbitant amount of guaranteed money for a two-down nose tackle. Wilkerson's tag would be roughly $15.5 million, hardly small change, but more in line with the market value. "We like both Mo and Damon," Maccagnan said. "We're going to try to figure out a way to ideally keep both of them." Here's a way: Sign them both. They're both terrific players, both in the prime of their career. The idea is to keep good players in the building, not send them off. Sure, there are cap restraints, but they can move around money and make it work. Failing a deal with Wilkerson, they should exercise the franchise tag and keep the Big Four together for at least one more year.From what I hear, I don't think the Jets have shut the door on a tag-and-trade with Wilkerson, which would be a mistake -- unless they're blown away with an offer. Maccagnan admitted he hasn't ruled out anything. "Mo is a very good player -- obviously, we'd like to keep him with the organization going forward -- but all options are on the table," he said. Ah, yes, 'tis the season for posturing. > http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/58604/mo-wilkerson-damon-harrison-both-options-for-jets-franchise-tag-wink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 26, 2016 Author Share Posted February 26, 2016 Adam Schefter Discusses Jets' Franchise Tag Senior Reporter Eric Allen Catches Up with ESPN Insider & Discusses Options for the Jets in Free Agency video.. > http://www.newyorkjets.com/videos/videos/Adam-Schefter-Discusses-Jets-Franchise-Tag-/90f729c3-c41d-4792-b030-149ecbeaf130 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 26, 2016 Author Share Posted February 26, 2016 The Washington Redskins will use one of their tags on quarterbackKirk Cousins and have been in talks with at least two other teams about a trade involving Robert Griffin III, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Redskins still must decide whether they will use their franchise tag or their transition tag on Cousins, a league source told Schefter.Griffin would have to agree to a new contract with any team that trades for him, so the former Heisman Trophy winner figures to have some influence on where he would be traded. Cousins was named the Redskins' starting quarterback over Griffin at the start of last season and led the Redskins to a 9-7 record and the NFC East division title.Based on a projected salary cap of $153 million for the 2016 season, the franchise tag for the quarterback position would be worth $19.6 million while the transition tag would be worth $17.5 million. Teams have until Tuesday to apply the tags. Redskins coach Jay Gruden and general manager Scot McCloughanboth said Wednesday that they wanted to reach a long-term deal with Cousins.But a team source told Schefter last week that the Redskins broke off negotiations with Cousins, and another source said that the sides were not close to an agreement. Griffin was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012, when he also led Washington to a division title. But he struggled with injuries and inconsistent play in 2013 and 2014 and did not appear in a game this past season.Gruden also said Wednesday that he is disappointed that Griffin's stint with the Redskins did not work out better.The Redskins picked up Griffin's $16.15 million option for 2016. If they are unable to trade Griffin, the Redskins are expected to release him by the time the new league year begins March 9. The Redskins selected Cousins in the fourth round of the 2012 draft -- three rounds after taking Griffin with the second overall pick. But Cousins, 27, rose from being a backup in his first three seasons to a starter in 2015.Before this past season, Cousins had started nine games and appeared in 14, throwing 18 touchdowns to 19 interceptions. His interception issues continued early in the 2015 season, as he threw six touchdowns and eight picks in the first six games.But Cousins caught fire after that, finishing with 23 touchdowns and three interceptions in the final 10 regular-season games. > http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14851707/washington-redskins-use-tag-kirk-cousins-talk-robert-griffin-iii-trade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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