Tag: franchise tag

Antoine Winfield Jr. was never going anywhere

All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was always going to stay in Tampa Bay, and a long-term deal should quickly follow the franchise tag

The least surprising news of the day for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Tuesday was placing the franchise tag on All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. just ahead of the league deadline.

While many other fan bases may have had hopes of Winfield hitting free agency, that was never going to happen.

Whether it was the franchise tag or a long-term contract extension, Winfield was always going to stay in Tampa Bay for the foreseeable future. Placing the tag on Winfield not only locks him in for the 2024 season, but also gives the Bucs more time to work out a new deal that should make Winfield the highest-paid safety in the NFL.

A second-round pick out of Minnesota in 2020, Winfield made an immediate impact for the Bucs, helping them win a Super Bowl as a rookie. He’s since established himself as arguably the best safety in the game, and at 25 years old, he’s just now entering the prime of his career.

Antoine Winfield Jr. Bucs
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Winfield has not only become a dynamic playmaker on the field, but also a respected leader in the locker room, something that has been extremely valuable as the Bucs have transitioned out of the Tom Brady era. Young players like Winfield stepping into those leadership roles has been a huge reason why the Bucs are currently riding a three-year streak of winning the NFC South, and should be the favorites to do it again next season.

So, while it’s understandable that fans across the league may be disappointed that Winfield won’t be available on the open market when free agency kicks off next week, the reality is that the Bucs were never going to let that happen under any circumstances.

The franchise tag will keep Winfield in Tampa Bay for the short-term, but don’t be surprised when a long-term extension is announced in the coming weeks or months that ensures he’ll remain a Buc for much longer.

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What does the non-exclusive franchise tag mean for Panthers, Brian Burns?

As expected, the Panthers placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Brian Burns today. Where do the two sides go from here?

On Tuesday morning, the Carolina Panthers did the expected and officially placed the franchise tag on outside linebacker Brian Burns. Yeah, we all knew it would happen, right?

But what some may not know is the detail behind what type of tag it is—the non-exclusive one.

As opposed to the exclusive tag, in which the Panthers would be the only team allowed to negotiate with Burns, the non-exclusive tag opens up potential business for the rest of the league. So, yes, the two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher is allowed to talk to and even agree upon a new contract with a new organization.

Now, what if he does?

Well, if Burns gets to that point, the Panthers will be given the opportunity to match the agreement and sign him to that very pact. If the Panthers decide they don’t want to match an offer Burns could get elsewhere, they will get two first-round picks from the team that signs him.

Given that Burns would cost a major long-term deal as well as two first-round picks for another franchise, this scenario is quite unlikely. Heck, teams rushed to announce that they didn’t want to touch MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson last offseason when he was under the non-exclusive tag. (Update: He’s added another MVP since then.)

As of now, Burns is sitting at a $24 million price tag for the 2024 campaign and will have some extra time (132 days, to be exact) to finally find a real compromise in Carolina.

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Jaguars fail to reach terms on deal, place franchise tag on Josh Allen

The Jaguars were unable to reach terms on a long-term contract with Josh Allen and used the franchise tag to keep him.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are placing the franchise tag on pass rusher Josh Allen, the team announced Tuesday.

The tag is due to pay Allen a fully guaranteed $24,007,000 for the 2024 season if the Jaguars can’t get a multi-year extension done before July 15.

While Allen is still be allowed to negotiate with teams as a free agent next week, the tag means the Jaguars will have the opportunity to match any offer he receives. And if Jacksonville declines to match an offer, Allen’s new team would owe the Jaguars two first-round picks.

Those circumstances are rare, though, and the franchise tag almost certainly means Allen will be with the Jaguars in 2024.

The decision to tag Allen is far from good news for the Jaguars, though. It represents a failure to reach terms on a long-term deal with their star defensive player, which threatens to permanently strain the relationship if a contract can’t be reached by July.

The use of the tag on Allen also means the Jaguars won’t be able to use a tag to retain wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who is now just a week away from becoming a free agent. While the team could still re-sign Ridley, it’s a delicate situation made complicated by the terms of the trade and the burgeoning market for the receiver.

Still, the bright side for Jacksonville is that it won’t lose Allen in 2024. The former top 10 draft pick earned Pro Bowl honors for the second time in his career when he racked up 17.5 sacks in 2023, second most in the NFL.

It’s the 11th time the Jaguars have used the franchise tag to keep a player and the fifth straight offseason.

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Bears place franchise tag on CB Jaylon Johnson

The Bears have placed the franchise tag on All-Pro CB Jaylon Johnson as the sides haven’t yet agreed to a long-term deal.

The Chicago Bears are set to place the franchise tag on cornerback Jaylon Johnson, tying him to the team through the 2024 season, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.

General manager Ryan Poles had been hopeful to sign Johnson to a long-term deal, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement prior to the tag deadline of March 5. Johnson will make $19.8 million if he plays the season on the tag.

Jones notes the Bears are continuing to work on a long-term extension, which he noted could still happen before the start of new league year next week.

According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, it’s a non-exclusive tag for Johnson. With a non-exclusive tag, the most commonly used, other teams can negotiate with Johnson, but the Bears have the right to match any offer. If they don’t, they would get two first-round picks.

Retaining Johnson was a priority for the Bears after he produced a career year in 2023. Johnson totaled four interceptions and 10 pass breakups while allowing an opposing passer rating of just 50.9. He was consistently one of the top cornerbacks according to PFF and was named to his first Pro Bowl and earned Second-Team All-Pro honors. All of this was accomplished while navigating through a season that contained trade rumors and even a request.

Ultimately, Johnson never went anywhere and that doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon. The two sides have until July to hammer out a long-term contract, which Poles has indicated is his preference. Otherwise, Johnson will play the 2024 season on the franchise tag.

What does Tuesday’s franchise tag deadline mean for Patriots?

Will the Patriots use the franchise tag by Tuesday’s deadline?

The deadline for NFL teams to use the franchise tag is at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. That means it’s crunch time for the New England Patriots, if they’re considering using the tag on one of their pending free agents.

There are truly only two realistic options for the Patriots to consider: offensive tackle Mike Onwenu or safety Kyle Dugger.

Neither choice would be cheap.

Tagging Onwenu would cost the team $20.9 million for a guaranteed one-year contract, while keeping Dugger on such a deal would be $17.1 million. Of course, the team would much rather strike up a long-term deal with both players than the one-year placement rental.

Onwenu carries a hefty price tag, but he’s a vital player for the Patriots. His ability to play at both the offensive guard and tackle positions is a rare luxury for a rebuilding team. Keep in mind, Trent Brown is also a free agent this year, and none of the other tackles on the roster have panned out well for the Patriots.

It’s a trouble spot that could turn catastrophic if the team loses both Onwenu and Brown in free agency.

They’d definitely miss Kyle Dugger at safety, but there might be cheaper options in free agency or even the draft to help fill the void. The defense could survive without Dugger, but it’s hard to say the same for the offense without its two starting tackles.

Onwenu recently parted ways with his agency and has opted to represent himself in negotiations, which could make things interesting when it comes to renegotiating a possible extension with the Patriots. Meanwhile, Dugger recently changed agencies.

What happens on Tuesday could have a major impact on the Patriots’ approach in free agency and the 2024 NFL draft.

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Franchise tag deadline: Will the Bears use it on Jaylon Johnson?

The franchise tag deadline is today, where we’ll see whether the Bears tag Jaylon Johnson or agree to a long-term deal.

The NFL’s franchise tag window officially closes Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT, where the Chicago Bears have to decide whether to use the tag on star cornerback Jaylon Johnson.

Johnson is coming off a career season and his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods. He established himself as one of the NFL’s best cover cornerbacks, totaling a career-high four interceptions, 36 tackles and 10 pass breakups in 14 games.

General manager Ryan Poles made it clear that Johnson isn’t going anywhere in 2024. Essentially, that means Chicago is aiming to sign him to a long-term deal with the flexibility of the franchise tag to allow for additional negotiation time.

Last week at the NFL Scouting Combine, Poles told reporters they were in the process of getting a contract extension done for Johnson, where conversations were going well and he sounded optimistic about getting a deal in place.

Teams that utilize a tag have until mid-July to work out a long-term deal with a player. If there is no deal agreed upon, the player will play out the 2024 season on that one-year tag.

For Johnson, the franchise tag would pay him $19.8 million, the average of the top five salaries at his position.

At this point, the expectation is the Bears will use the franchise tag on Johnson to further negotiations with the hope of getting a long-term deal done. We’ll see if Chicago can manage to get a deal done before the 3 p.m. CT deadline.

Commanders DE K.J. Henry recruiting one of the NFL’s top pass rushers to Washington

Commanders DE trying to recruit one of the NFL’s best to Washington.

After trading away Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the NFL trade deadline in October, outside of one game, the Washington Commanders failed to apply pressure on opposing passers throughout the second half of the season.

Young and Sweat’s departures did allow younger players, such as rookie K.J. Henry and Andre Jones Jr., to receive significant reps last season. Henry, a fifth-round pick from Clemson, had some impressive moments. He appeared in 10 games, making three starts. He finished his rookie season with 19 tackles, including four loss and 1.5 sacks.

But while Henry looks to have a nice future in Washington, the Commanders need some help to apply pressure on opposing passers under new coach Dan Quinn.

The good news for Washington is there is some depth at edge rusher in free agency. The two top pass rushers, Josh Allen (Jaguars) and Brian Burns (Panthers), are expected to be franchise tagged. Both will cost a lot, but the Commanders have the cap room — if one becomes available.

Carolina has been trying to come to an agreement with Burns on an extension but stopped contract talks at the NFL combine as the two sides remain far apart.

Henry, knowing the Commanders need some additional help in getting after the quarterback, is looking to recruit Burns to Washington.

Burns never acknowledged Henry’s tweet, which is not a surprise. There’s a good chance Burns becomes available this offseason but via trade. It’s doubtful Washington GM Adam Peters parts with multiple draft picks for a veteran player who he still must sign to a top-of-the-market deal.

Burns would solve several problems for the Commanders, though.

Report: A ‘near certainty’ Panthers will use franchise tag on Brian Burns

Multiple reports from Sunday morning noted that the Panthers are very likely to use the franchise tag on Brian Burns before Tuesday’s deadline.

When it comes to the next step between outside linebacker Brian Burns and the Carolina Panthers, the expected is expected to happen.

As first noted by Joe Person of The Athletic, Carolina is expected to use the franchise tag on their two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline. ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler also heard the same from this year’s scouting combine, as he later added on Sunday morning that the move is a “near certainty.”

Again, slapping Burns with the tag should come as no surprise. During his media availability over in Indianapolis, president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan told reporters that the team would take that step if needed.

“We would definitely use it if we had to use it,” he said on Tuesday. “And we love Brian. Brian’s a Panther. Somebody that I know, that I’m close to. I played with his brother. So, definitely love Brian. But all options are on the table.”

If the tag is indeed used, Panthers and Burns will have until July 15 to agree to a new contract.

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Report: Dolphins now expected not to franchise tag DL Christian Wilkins

Miami now NOT expected to franchise tag their star defensive lineman.

The pre-free agency landscape around the NFL is ever-changing as more discussions are had and information is shared before the new league year starts.

Less than two weeks ago ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported that the Dolphins didn’t plan on letting defensive lineman Christian Wilkins leave, even if that meant using the franchise tag on him.

But now, after speaking to many at the combine, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler shared a new report (ESPN+ subscription required) that makes it seem that the franchise tag isn’t a likely option for Miami.

Here’s what Fowler wrote Sunday morning:

“While Miami’s stance is that all options are on the table for defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, several league sources say he probably won’t be franchise-tagged. That would put a big-time tackle who had 63 tackles and nine sacks in 2023 on the market.”

The Dolphins have already released Emmanuel Ogbah and told Xavien Howard they’ll be moving on from him this offseason. It also wouldn’t be surprising to see Jerome Baker released to save more money as they need it. If Wilkins doesn’t return, those are four huge changes for this defense that already struggled down the stretch last year.

On top of that, Wilkins isn’t the only interior defensive lineman that Miami may be losing, as Raekwon Davis and Da’Shawn Hand are expected to be free agents as well. That would leave just Zach Sieler, who received an extension last year and undrafted free agent Brandon Pili, who finished the 2023 season on the practice squad.

The Dolphins have paid a few players who have succeeded elsewhere before playing a snap for their team in recent years (Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb and Jalen Ramsey), and not paying one of their homegrown stars could send the wrong message to the locker room. However, this is what happens when you spend so much on top-tier talent in recent years.

UPDATE: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has reported that the team won’t use their tag on Wilkins.

Franchise tag ends Patriots’ hopes of landing WR Tee Higgins

So much for the Tee Higgins dream signing in New England

The dream of Tee Higgins signing with the New England Patriots in free agency came to an abrupt end on Friday night, after NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the Cincinnati Bengals had informed the burgeoning star receiver they intend to use the franchise tag on him.

It’s no surprise considering there’s a win-now window clearly open in Cincinnati. Quarterback Joe Burrow will be healthy next season, and they’ll be looking to pair Higgins with Ja’Marr Chase for a possible Super Bowl run.

Even though it was expected, it still stings for the Patriots, who are in desperate need of a No. 1 wide receiver. Granted, there are other options still out there as pending free agents, and the 2024 NFL draft is swarming with potential studs.

But Higgins was clearly the most surefire option available, and now, he’s off the table.

The Patriots own the No. 3 pick of the draft, and some have advocated for them to take Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who just might be the best overall prospect on the entire draft board. Yet, there’s a glaring need at quarterback, and the thought of them running it back again with Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe is nauseating.

Of course, they could always sign another veteran quarterback or draft a rookie later on the board. The seemingly endless options don’t make the eventual decision any less scary.

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