Pats can eye a few candidates for the franchise tag
Decision time looms when it comes to shaping the Patriots roster for the 2018 season.
Today marks the first opportunity to apply the franchise tag to players, and teams must make their designations by March 6. For the uninitiated, the franchise tag commits a team to a one-year guaranteed contract that prevents a player from becoming an unrestricted free agent. The dollar amount is determined by the five-year average of the top earners at each position.
Each team can only use the franchise tag once per year. For the Pats, the most significant name that normally would be considered is left tackle Nate Solder. However, due to terms in his last contract, Solder cannot be tagged. So if the Pats want to retain him for 2018, they have to find a way to re-sign him.
Clearly, Solder is the main priority. The offensive lineman can certainly find a big payday on the open market if not tagged. Although retirement has been talked for the 29-yearold, whose son faces serious health concerns, Solder stated he wants to continue his career. He took a teamfriendly, two-year $20 million deal last time, and the question now is whether he would do so again with the prospects of earning a bigger contract elsewhere.
Given Solder’s situation, a few other names pop up for the tag. Dion Lewis, who clearly separated himself as the best running back on the team, would be surprised if coach Bill Belichick used the tag on him. The values of this year’s franchise tags have not yet been set. Last year, the tag for running backs cost $12.12 million, which is probably more than the Pats are willing to spend on that position, which lends itself to find cheap, new options. Lewis most likely won’t be a bargain-basement re-signing.
Another running back, Rex Burkhead, battled injuries throughout the season and never quite filled the potential that he flashed when he was on the field. A multi-dimensional threat, the team should be able to re-sign Burkhead at a reasonable price should they so choose.
Finally, cornerback Malcolm Butler is set to become an unrestricted free agent, and the way this past season ended where he did not play a single defensive snap in the 41-33 Super Bowl LII loss to Philadelphia still stands as one of the most puzzling moves in the Belichick era. It would be a major surprise to see Butler back with the Pats in 2018.
The Patriots haven’t used the tag often. It’s happened nine times in the Belichick era, including three combined for kickers Adam Vinatieri (2002, 2005) and Stephen Gostkowski (2015).
The Pats last used it on a non-specialist in 2012 when Wes Welker was tagged then left in free agency the next year.
Patriots notes
According to Devin McCourty, the reports that Butler did not play in Super Bowl LII because of disciplinary reasons are false.
Speaking at a Rutgersbased fundraiser, McCourty told NJ.com that not only were those allegations against the cornerback just rumors, but that the team knew he wouldn’t be in the starting lineup.
“As far as I know, all of that is the furthest thing from the truth,” McCourty said of Butler being disciplined. “We all knew he wasn’t starting all week. That wasn’t a secret to the guys on the team.”
Since the Super Bowl, McCourty staunchly defended Butler.
“I get why people are fishing,” McCourty said. “The guy played 98 percent of the plays. I just hate that for him character-wise going into free agency. It’s just not true. As far as I know, and I was there all week, not one time did anything come up.”
McCourty, a captain and free safety, has spoken highly of Butler’s character as the cornerback enters free agency.