Franchise Tag, You’re It!
The NFL’s Favorite Off-Season Game since 1993
Exactly one week from today marks the start of the most anticipated day of sports gossiping and story scooping of the year. Marked on the calendar months in advance by every “anonymous” source and all of the popular “insiders”, March 9th will either signify a day of great celebration or tragic loss. It really all depends on how well the masses can rationalize the decisions of a few powerful elites.
Indeed, March 9th will reopen the world to the most ferocious capitalistic market known to man — NFL Free Agency. It has engrained itself as one of the tensest days of the year for all 32 NFL franchises and their millions of fans since 1947 (but free agency as we know it started in 1992). Since 1993, though, many NFL teams have been able to avoid losing their prized players to higher bidders during the free agency meat market thanks to a front office’s best friend: the Franchise Tag.
A bit of forewarning here — If you actually thought this blog would be talking about a timeless children’s game or just honestly don’t know what the heck the NFL’s Franchise Tag is; don’t panic like a Manning in the pocket, I’m here to help explain what the tag is and tell you what teams have used it this year…
In 1993, the NFL implemented the Franchise Tag as a way to deter the movement of marquee players from smaller markets to big time teams who can afford to pay the best players the most money. This happens a lot in almost every other major pro sport — remember Alex Rodriguez to the Rangers, Shaquille O’Neal to the Lakers, Alex Rodriguez to the Yankees, or LeBron James and Chris Bosh to the Heat? Alright, so its mostly Arod’s fault, but you get the idea.
Since the NFL has a hard salary cap, the Franchise Tag allows NFL general managers to strategically hold onto their most valuable free agent players during the free agency period, while they sign other free agents and draft picks without exceeding their team salary limits. Tagging a player simply gives teams more time to negotiate a long term deal, or signs that player to a one-year contract that is valued at the average of the top five salaries in the league at that player’s position. That value also depends on the type of tag the team used (there are 3 that you can read about here).
Now, enough of the boring technical talk about offseason football rules. The reason we’re here right now (hopefully you’ve read this far) is to talk about the teams who made the biggest headlines by exercising their Franchise Tags in 2016 and what that means for them moving forward:
Washington Redskins: Kirk Cousins, QB — last month, Pierre Garcon demanded that his current team #PaytheMan…
and they did in some regard by tagging Cousins to the tune of $19.9 million. Kirk had by far the best year of his career in 2015 and let his stats command a big payday for him this offseason. While the ‘Skins will look to lockup their QB of the future (#sadface, RG3) with a long term deal, tagging Cousins now was the best option for both sides since neither are very close to agreeing on a deal just yet. Regardless, it looks like it made Pierre pretty happy…
”The Man with The Plan” — Scot McCloughan #HTTRsqor.com
Denver Broncos: Von Miller, LB — the Broncos plan on keeping the Super Bowl 50 MVP in orange and blue for a long time, and tagging Miller — who is expecting to be paid like the best defensive player in the NFL — will give them a lot more time to do so this offseason. Expect his deal to exceed $60 million in guaranteed money over the next six or seven years…or a more fun way to look at it 60 million more reasons to buy some sweet new hipster clothes and dance like this all the way to the bank!
Baltimore Ravens: Justin Tucker, K — Hmm…your kicker is your franchise player, huh? I guess you can play it that way when you sign your “elite” quarterback, Joe Flacco, to a multi-year extension with $40 million guaranteed big ones. But wait, what’s that you say? Kickers have been the second-most franchise tagged position since 1993? Shock value aside, this is actually a pretty good deal for both the Ravens and Justin Tucker. The Ravens get the chance to lock up the second most accurate kicker in league history and Tucker will now make more money this season than all 4 of his previous years in the league combined. Plus, it really makes sense if you think about how many extra points were missed this year after they were moved back to the 15-yard line. Or they just don’t want to be like the Minnesota Vikings (too soon?).
Other Notable Franchise Tags Used:
Buffalo Bills: Cordy Glenn, OL — I’m sure Cordy Glenn (All-NFL Name, honorable mention) is a great lineman, but what good is paying a guy to protect a quarterback you don’t have? Bills would be smart to use their tag on Tyrod Taylor next year if they sign Glenn to a mega-deal.
Carolina Panthers: Josh Norman, CB — the best CB in the league in 2015 is worth every penny. Hopefully he’s not spending all of those pennies on more baseball bats.
Chicago Bears: Alshon Jeffery, WR — the Bears had to give Jay Cutler someone to try to throw the ball to.
Kansas City Chiefs: Eric Berry, S — incredible comeback year for Berry after thoughts he may never play again, definitely a top 5 safety in the league.
Los Angeles Rams: Trumaine Johnson, CB — behind Norman, arguably one of the top CB’s in 2015…maybe in a big-time market like LA people will finally find out who he is.
Miami Dolphins: Olivier Vernon, DL — not really sure what the transition tag does for Vernon or the Dolphins here, reports are that he may end up walking. Which is odd because Dolphins can’t walk…
New York Jets: Muhammad Wilkerson, DT — its hard to find anyone who can stop the run quite like Wilkerson. Its also hard to find anyone with a beard like Brian Fitzpatrick. They should have just tagged that beard.
Even More Notable Deals Already Reached:
Philadelphia Eagles: Sam Bradford, QB — the Eagles locked up “Sammy Sleeves” for 2 years and $36 million. The hope is that the former Heisman Trophy winner and beneficiary of some talented Rams offenses (read: sorry, that was Kurt Warner) will become the next franchise QB. I’ll reserve any true Philadelphia-fan feelings until we find out if that’s true…Just kidding, I really like this deal, but if it doesn’t work out I’m going to boo my head off and say that I hated it the entire time!*
*Disclaimer: Yes, I bleed green — Fly, Eagles, Fly! — so get used to it if you read more blogs. Please read more blogs.
Baltimore Ravens: Joe Flacco, QB — the Ravens clearly think Joe Flacco is the most elite quarterback they are ever going to meet, as evidenced by the 4-year extension they just gave him with a $40 million signing bonus! Let’s just hope he spends some of that money on rehabbing the knee he tore up last season and not on McDonald’s nuggets like last time.
Oakland Raiders: Marquette King, P — the Raiders have always been bad-ass, and continued that legacy by signing the most B.A. punter in the league to a long-term extension. Pretty sure the raiders have the best kicking duo in the league based on swag alone. Or at least one of the highest paid?
New England Patriots: Tom Brady, QB — the Pats inked Tom Brady to a 2 year extension that will keep him in New England until 2019 because Patriots. That’s why.
