Each year there are a handful of players whose free agent status is just too good to be true. Friday we saw four of them kept by way of the franchise tag. They are…
Broncos safety Justin Simmons
Chargers tight end Hunter Henry
Jaguars edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue
Ravens edge rusher Matt Judon.
Simmons is the player who figured to have significant interest from the Raiders had he hit the market.
The original franchise tag deadline was yesterday. The new one is Monday just prior to the start of the free agent negotiating period.
Other potential free agents many expect to get the tag, should a long term deal not be reached include…
Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott
Bengals wide receiver AJ Green
Washington guard Brandon Scherff
Steelers edge rusher Bud Dupree
Jones on Friday had a tweet that raised some eyebrows, causing many to come up with theories that either Jones won’t sign a franchise tag or expects it to be a tag-and-trade situation.
“ hope that they know that I love em but, all good things must come to an end”….@iamkevingates
— Chris Jones (@StoneColdJones) March 13, 2020
Most NFL players aren’t too fond of the franchise tag. They want a long term deal of some kind. Franchise tags allow NFL teams to revisit the idea of a long term deal next year. Meanwhile a drop in player or worse a serious injury could significantly lower the player’s value. Not to mention simply age and wear and tear lowering their value.
Jones is another player who the Raiders would probably have interest in should he reach the market and perhaps even in trade. Like Simmons, he plays for a rival, so that increases his value in their eyes.