Will the Philadelphia
Eagles find a trade partner for quarterback Nick Foles?
The clock begins ticking Tuesday, when the NFL's window for putting franchise
tags on players opens.
The franchise tag is a labor designation that restricts a
player's potential movement in exchange for a high one-year salary. Each team
can put the franchise tag on one pending free agent, a decision that is expensive
but also provides massive leverage against losing a player, ensuring the team a
hefty return if that player ultimately departs.
Teams have until March 5 (at 4 p.m. ET) to put franchise
tags on their most valuable players.
The expected salary for quarterbacks with the franchise
designation in 2019 is $25 million. The Eagles' trade options hinge on the franchise designation -- they can't carry
Foles on the books at that number as a backup to Carson Wentz.
But if there is competition among quarterback-needy teams who wish to sign Foles,
the Eagles can put the tag on him and then make a trade.
Pro Bowl defenders Jadeveon
Clowney and C.J. Mosley are
among the other players who are candidates to be tagged this offseason.
I predict whether teams will use the tag and, if so, on
which players.
PITTSBURGH
STEELERS
RUNNING BACK LE'VEON BELL:
Designating Bell the franchise player for the third straight year is unlikely.
Bell's yearlong holdout broke goodwill with the team, and with many around the
league believing his third tag is worth $20-plus million, Bell's holdout
notwithstanding, the Steelers either wouldn't want to pay that or wouldn't
allocate the cap space to keep the tag in place. The transition tag is more
tenable, especially if the Steelers can prove its worth around $9.5 million
instead of $14.5 million because of Bell's absence in 2018. But Bell can't be
traded unless he signs the tag or the Steelers utilize an offer sheet for a
convoluted sign-and-trade plan, which is risky if other teams aren't interested
in the offer sheet's numbers. Plus, the NFLPA would argue such a move violates
the spirit of the tag and the collective bargaining agreement.
PREDICTION: The Steelers will not use any tag on
Bell.
ATLANTA
FALCONS
DEFENSIVE TACKLE GRADY JARRETT:
The Falcons keep saying that signing Jarrett to a long-term extension is a top
priority, but it hasn't happened just yet. Talks were tabled during the season
but should be in full swing now after the team cleared more than $15 million in
cap space following the releases of CB Robert Alford,
K Matt Bryant and
DE Brooks Reed.
If the sides don't come to an agreement, tagging Jarrett at a price of around
$15.5 million for 2019 could be an option, although the Falcons haven't used
the tag freely over the years.
PREDICTION: Based on the Falcons' history with
their marquee players, expect Jarrett to get a long-term deal that keeps the
team from using the franchise tag
BALTIMORE
RAVENS
LINEBACKER C.J. MOSLEY:
New Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta wouldn't deny that the tag is in play
for Mosley. It's just not very practical. Using the projected $15 million tag
on Mosley would eat up more than half of Baltimore's available cap space.
Mosley is the leading tackler for the NFL's top-ranked defense and he's one of
the core leaders on the team. But there could be debate whether Mosley deserves
to be the highest-paid middle linebacker in the game. Asked if the Ravens would
consider the tag for Mosley, DeCosta said, "I think everything is on the
table right now. I certainly hope that C.J. is back. I believe in my heart that
he will be."
PREDICTION: The Ravens won't put the franchise
tag on Mosley, but they will end up retaining him in free agency. All sides are
optimistic about getting a deal done.
DALLAS
COWBOYS
DEFENSIVE END DEMARCUS
LAWRENCE: The Cowboys want to avoid putting the tag on Lawrence
for a second year. He made $17.1 million in 2018 on the tag and would make
$20.5 million in 2019. The Cowboys wanted to see if Lawrence could repeat his
production from 2017 and he did, putting up 10.5 sacks with 39 quarterback pressures
and earning a second Pro Bowl nod. A year ago, there seemed to be little hope a
long-term deal could be done. This year, there seems be a little more optimism,
even with a tight window to negotiate. If the Cowboys use the tag on Lawrence
again, they run the risk of him not showing for the offseason program,
minicamp, training camp and potentially regular-season games.
PREDICTION: The Cowboys know it will be costly,
but ultimately a contract should be finalized, and they won't use the tag
HOUSTON
TEXANS
DEFENSIVE END JADEVEON
CLOWNEY: To be determined is whether he'll be tagged as a
defensive end or a linebacker, and the difference is roughly $1 million.
Clowney has 18.5 sacks the past two seasons and has missed only one game in
that span after missing 17 in his first three seasons. He has become a major
disruptor and the Texans would love to keep him paired with a healthy J.J. Watt.
Clowney stepped up as the Texans' top pass-rusher when Watt missed 11 games in
2017. The Texans have roughly $64 million in cap space so it won't be a strain
to tag him, which would give them extra time to work out a long-term deal.
PREDICTION: Expect the Texans to use the tag on
Clowney.
KANSAS CITY
CHIEFS
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER DEE FORD:
The Chiefs appear motivated to retain Ford, whether that's on a long-term
contract or as the franchise player. Ford would cost about $15 million on the
franchise tag. He indicated during the season that he would sign the tender if
he's tagged, calling that decision a "no-brainer.'' It would be a shame
for the Chiefs to watch Ford play for another team after he finally fulfilled
the promise that led them to draft him in the first round in 2014. "When
we drafted Dee a few years ago, all those things that we envisioned for him, he
kind of showed that he was that player. ... We are excited about bringing him
back," general manager Brett Veach said.
PREDICTION: Look for the Chiefs to tag Ford,
absent a long-term deal.
LOS ANGELES
RAMS
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER DANTE FOWLER
JR.: The Rams have made a habit in recent years of using
the franchise tag, most recently on safety Lamarcus
Joyner and previously on cornerback Trumaine
Johnson (in back-to-back seasons). But this season, the tag
could be used on Fowler. The Rams traded for Fowler at midseason as a
short-term rental and the former first-round pick provided a needed presence
from the edge. If the Rams tag Fowler, it probably would be at the cost of a
defensive end, which would amount to more than $17 million. That's a steep
price tag on a roster that's also in need of a defensive tackle and potentially
a safety. In 10 games with the Rams last season, including the playoffs, Fowler
had 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
PREDICTION: The Rams will not use the tag on
Fowler.
MINNESOTA
VIKINGS
LINEBACKER ANTHONY BARR:
The Vikings knew they'd face a tough decision with Barr when they opted not to
extend the former first-rounder last offseason, which then put him in the
position to play out his fifth-year option. Minnesota has to decide whether it
wants to spend the estimated $15 million on a franchise tag to keep Barr around
-- or possibly plan to trade him soon after. Barr smoothed out an up-and-down
season toward the end of 2018, recording the first multiple sack game of his
NFL career and generating 23 total quarterback pressures on 94 rushes,
according to Pro Football Focus. While he has said he wanted to return to
Minnesota, Barr expressed a desire to keep all of his options open if he hits
free agency. Though Barr has been an integral part of Mike Zimmer's defense since
he was drafted in 2014, for a team up against the salary cap, spending that
amount to retain Barr doesn't seem realistic when there are other more pressing
needs as well as the likelihood that the Vikings will be able to find his
replacement in the draft or elsewhere.
PREDICTION: The Vikings will not use the tag on
Barr.
NEW ENGLAND
PATRIOTS
KICKER STEPHEN
GOSTKOWSKI: The Patriots could strike an extension with
Gostkowski before free agency, but if they don't, assigning him the franchise
tag would help them maintain some leverage to keep him in the fold in 2019.
While the tag of about $5 million is richer than the club would project to pay
on an annual basis as part of a multiyear deal, it could be a placeholder until
the sides hammer out a longer pact. Some might ask, "Why not DE Trey Flowers or
OT Trent Brown?"
The thinking is that their franchise-tag numbers would be too high for the
team's liking.
PREDICTION: The Patriots will not use the tag on
Gostkowski and will sign him to an extension.
NEW YORK
GIANTS
SAFETY LANDON
COLLINS: The Giants aren't in any position to allow 25-year-old
defensive playmakers to walk. Collins wants to stay and get paid top safety
money. But given the unpredictability of the safety market the past few years
and his position (strong safety); it's going to be hard to find a middle ground
that suits both parties.
PREDICTION: That will leave Collins destined for
the safety franchise tag at close to $11 million for 2019
PHILADELPHIA
EAGLES
QUARTERBACK NICK FOLES:
The Eagles are hoping to get some value in return via tag and trade as they
move on from the former Super Bowl MVP. With the franchise number for
quarterbacks expected to be around $25 million, Philly needs to have a trade
partner lined up before going down this road. If a trade doesn't materialize,
the Eagles can let Foles walk and settle for a compensatory pick in 2020.
PREDICTION: The stars need to align, but we'll
say the front office finds a dance partner and successfully executes a tag and
trade.
SAN FRANCISCO
49ERS
KICKER ROBBIE GOULD:
Gould has been the most accurate kicker in the league in his two seasons in San
Francisco, converting 96 percent of his 75 field goal attempts. That kind of
production makes him a valuable commodity in a league where kickers seem to
miss clutch kicks on a regular basis. The franchise-tag number for kickers in
2019 is expected to come in somewhere around $5 million, a number the Niners
can easily absorb, given they should have between $60 million and $70 million
in cap space. Ideally, the 49ers would like to sign Gould to an extension
before free agency, and the sides have had talks toward that, but it's hard to
imagine a scenario in which they'd just let him walk with no better option
clearly available.
PREDICTION: If no deal is struck, Gould will be
tagged and negotiations will continue.
SEATTLE
SEAHAWKS
DEFENSIVE END FRANK CLARK:
The franchise tag has seemed likely since Clark's agent told ESPN.com in
October that his client is willing to wait for a deal that makes him one of the
NFL's highest-paid pass-rushers, even if it means playing on a tag first.
"We plan on Frank being with us," Coach Pete Carroll said at the end
of the season, seemingly an indication that the Seahawks will tag Clark if they
have to. Clark turns 26 in June. He's coming off his best season and his 32
sacks since 2016 are ninth most in that span, so it's nearly impossible to
imagine the Seahawks letting him get to free agency. With well over $50 million
in projected 2019 cap space, the Seahawks can easily absorb the $17 million to
$18 million cap charge that would come with the tag.
PREDICTION: Clark gets tagged and the two sides
continue to negotiate a long-term deal.
TAMPA BAY
BUCCANEERS
OFFENSIVE TACKLE DONOVAN SMITH:
Smith will be back with the Bucs in 2019. The question is whether it's under
the franchise tag or a long-term deal. He has started 64 consecutive games,
tied for second most of any left tackle in the league behind Jake Matthews.
That would make Smith the top left tackle in the free-agent market. Yes, he has
shined at times, but he has also had some issues with consistency. Still, at
just 25 years old, the Bucs believe he has not reached his ceiling and his
greatest asset is his durability.
PREDICTION: If the Bucs can't work out a
long-term deal, which is believed to be in the ballpark of $12 million to $13
million per year, they'll franchise him at an estimated $14.077 million for one
year.
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