Sizing up who’ll wear NFL franchise tag
Starting Wednesday, NFL teams can place the franchise or transition tag on one of their players who has an expiring contract.
While there are different levels of the tag (see Page 6C), it basically keeps a player from reaching unrestricted free agency.
The deadline to tag a player this year is 4 p.m. ET March 1. Free agency begins March 9.
Here are the top candidates to receive a tag, though in some cases it might be wise for the teams to let them walk.
QB KIRK COUSINS, WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Should he get the tag: Yes Why: Many players hate the franchise tag ’s lack of long-term security, but Cousins stands to cash in. He made nearly $20 million after being tagged in 2016 and would receive roughly $24 million if he were franchised a second time. (Being franchised in consecutive years automatically triggers a 20% raise.) It’s worth wondering if the Redskins will use the exclusive tag on him as speculation swirls that a quarterback-needy team such as the San Francisco 49ers — their new coach, Kyle Shanahan, worked with Cousins in Washington in 2012 and 2013 — might be willing to make him a monster offer. Ultimately, the Redskins’ best option seems to be keeping their Pro Bowl quarterback and locking him up to a long-term deal that also would lower his 2017 cap number.
S ERIC BERRY, KANSAS CIT Y CHIEFS
Should he get the tag: Yes Why: Franchising the all-pro for the second consecutive year won’t go over well with Berry’s
camp. Using the tag again in 2017 must merely be a means to getting a new deal done — the sooner, the better — before negotiations get truly nasty between Berry and the Chiefs. One of the most well-liked and respected players in the locker room, Berry held out for about a month of the preseason last year because of the tag and has threatened to sit out next season if the team doesn’t lock him up for the long run.
RB LE’VEON BELL, PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Should he get the tag: Yes Why: The franchise tag for a running back is expected to be about $12 million, which would allow Bell to be the second-best paid at the position in 2017 after Adrian Peterson. That seems like a lot, but Bell is worth it — despite two suspensions for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. This seems like a situation in which both sides will try to get a long-term deal done, but the tag would be a no-brainer to make sure such a critical piece of the Pittsburgh offense remains in place.
ILB DONT’A HIGHTOWER, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Should he get the tag: No Why not: There is no doubting his value to the defense — just look at Hightower’s momentumchanging fourth-quarter stripsack in the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory — but financially the tag does not make sense for a frugal franchise. The tag for a linebacker is exceptionally high (it was $14.1 million last year and will be more in 2017), which would make him, by far, the highest-paid inside linebacker in the league. Look for the Patriots to try to sign Hightower before free agency opens instead.
OLB CHANDLER JONES, ARIZONA CARDINALS
Should he get the tag: Yes Why: The Cardinals invested a lot in Jones when they sent a second-round draft pick to the Patri- ots last year to acquire him. Head coach Bruce Arians and team President Michael Bidwill have said that, barring agreement on a deal by March 1, Jones will receive the tag. This also means the Cardinals could lose Calais Campbell, 30, one of the best 3-4 defensive ends in the league, unless Jones re-signs early and gives the team the option to tag Campbell instead.
DT KAWANN SHORT, CAROLINA PANTHERS
Should he get the tag: Yes Why: The Panthers seem prepared to tag Short, with coach Ron Rivera and general manager Dave Gettleman telling reporters recently that was the plan absent a deal by March 1. It makes sense given how sought-after Short would be if he reached free agency. He’s one of the NFL’s most dominant interior linemen, and the Panthers have shown they will spend their money in the trenches.
DE JASON PIERRE-PAUL, NEW YORK GIANTS
Should he get the tag: Yes Why: He played last year on a $10 million deal — a prove-it contract in his first full season back after losing part of his right hand in a fireworks accident. And Pierre-Paul proved he can still play, recording seven sacks in 12 games (he missed time with a groin injury). The problem is, after New York’s spending spree last year, signing Pierre-Paul to the massive deal he wants just might not be possible — though releasing wide receiver Victor Cruz and running back Rashad Jennings on Monday in cost-cutting moves might help. Pierre-Paul likely won’t be happy about settling for a one-year deal at roughly $17 million, but it would be the best move for the Giants to keep their best pass rusher off the market.
OLB MELVIN INGRAM, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Should he get the tag: Yes
Why: Sure, the Chargers found an elite pass rusher in 2016 in defensive rookie of the year Joey Bosa. But to be a truly strong defense, they need two, and that’s why they should make sure Ingram can’t leave. Though he’s not as good a player as recently tagged pass rushers Von Miller and Justin Houston, a tag number around $14 million makes sense for the Chargers to keep him.
CB A.J. BOUYE, HOUSTON TEXANS
Should he get the tag: Yes Why: He had a breakout season in 2016, but is he a one-hit wonder? While Bouye likely thinks he’s earned the right to test the open market — especially in a league that overpays for cornerbacks — he couldn’t be too unhappy with the salary bump he’d receive with the franchise tag salary of more than $14 million. Bouye, who went undrafted in 2013, made $1.6 million last year.
WR ALSHON JEFFERY, CHICAGO BEARS
Should he get the tag: No
Why not: Jeffery played 2016 on the franchise tag, so it would be extremely costly for the Bears to tag him a second time — more than $17.5 million. There have been times when he has been the type of receiver who deserved elite money, but he underperformed last season for a poor offense and served a four-game suspension for a performance-enhancing drug violation, factors that likely will drop his value.
K STEVEN HAUSCHKA, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Should he get the tag: No Why not: It is not uncommon for teams to tag their kickers, as Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens and Stephen Gostowski of the Patriots learned in recent years. Hauschka once seemed like a candidate, too, but a rocky 2016 — he missed six extra-point attempts in the regular season and one in the playoffs — hurt his value. Seattle also recently signed former kicker Blair Walsh from the Minnesota Vikings, another sign Hauschka could soon be playing elsewhere.