Landry signs his franchise tag offer

Decision opens door for possible trade

Jarvis Landry has signed his franchise tag, which commits the Miami Dolphins — or whatever team that may trade for the receiver — to paying the three-time Pro Bowl selection $15,982,000 in 2018.

The signing of the franchise tag was a formality that now allows the Dolphins to trade him as early as Wednesday, which is when the league’s new year begins.

By signing the franchise tag, Landry is under contract and is subject to a fine if he skips any of the team’s mandatory camps.

Landry’s contract, which will make him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL when it comes to base salary in 2018, puts the Dolphins $19 million over the projected salary cap of $177 million. The Dolphins must clear that cap space before Wednesday, to facilitate the pending trade for defensive end Robert Quinn, and sign other free agents.

The deadline for any team to sign a player placed on the franchise tag to a multi-year deal is July 16. After that date, the player may sign only a one-year contract with his prior team for the 2018 season, and that contract cannot be extended until after the team’s last regular-season game.

Signing the franchise tag could speed up the trade process, but it is hard to envision a team trading for Landry without him agreeing to a multi-year deal first because he’d likely be viewed as a one-year rental since giving him the tag for a second season