Franchise Tag: 2008 Recap
The deadline for teams to apply the franchise or transition tag designations ended at 4:30 pm EST yesterday; so now it’s time to recap what happened and evaluate some of the moves (and non-moves).
Twelve (12) teams used the franchise tag designation:
- CB Nmandi Asomugha (Oakland)
- CB Marcus Trufant (Seattle)
- DE Jared Allen (Kansas City)
- DT Albert Haynesworth (Tennessee)
- DT Corey Williams (Green Bay)
- LB Karlos Dansby (Arizona)
- LB Terrell Suggs (Baltimore)
- OT Stacy Andrews (Cincinnati)
- OT Jordan Gross (Carolina)
- S Ken Hamlin (Dallas)
- TE Dallas Clark (Indianapolis)
- TE L.J. Smith (Philadelphia)
Most Surprising Tag: Stacy Andrews
Andrews played quite well last season, but it was his first year as a starter. The Bengals still have Levi Jones and Willie Anderson in the picture; although that may change now that Andrews has been tagged. Given the importance of Carson Palmer and Andrews’ age, the move isn’t a total shocker; although few outside of die hard Bengals fans expected it.
Most Surprising Non-Tag: Randy Moss
As we discussed last night, not tagging Randy Moss is shocking only if they don’t already have a long-term deal completed; but unannounced until the February 29th start of free agency. We expect he IS under contract, but if this proves untrue, this may be the most shocking non-tag decision of the modern era.
Other Surprising Non-Tags
- OT Flozell Adams (Dallas) – Adams is no spring chicken, and the Cowboys did use their tag on someone else (Ken Hamlin), but this is a bold move if the Cowboys don’t end up re-signing Adams. He has played at a high level the last few seasons and the team doesn’t have someone of his caliber (or close to it) currently on the roster. Will Jerry Jones be willing to go to battle with a young, unproven tackle in 2008?
- PK Josh Brown (Seattle) — The Seahawks tagged Brown last year and it was thought he could be tagged again this season; but now free agency looms. It’s never an easy decision to let a proven kicker walk, but perhaps they didn’t see the logic in making him the highest paid PK in the league.
Interesting Tag Minutiae
- Exclusive tag versus non-exclusive – As we discussed earlier this week, Nmandi Asomugha was tagged with an exclusive franchise designation, meaning the Raiders paid him more (the average of the 2008 top 5 projected salaries versus the 2007 in a normal tag) in exchange for keeping Asomugha from being able to negotiate with other teams. It’s telling that only one of twelve teams opted to use this tag; as it involves paying a player more yet brings less wiggle room. Why a team would pass up the idea of getting 2 first round picks if a team wants their free agent badly enough is a mystery (the Raiders would still have had the right to match).
- Is Suggs a linebacker or defensive end? — The Baltimore Ravens tagged Terrell Suggs as a linebacker, but he has filed a grievance contending he should be paid as a defensive end. The difference? About $800K for the one-year tender. This matter will be settled shortly (if Suggs lined up more than 50% of the snaps as an end, he’ll get his extra dough), but it’s odd that Suggs, who has gone to the Pro Bowl twice as a LINEBACKER would think of himself otherwise.
Most Likely to Sign a Long-term Deal: Dallas Clark
OK, this is cheating since Clark already signed a 6-year deal to remain with the Colts.
Least Likely to Sign a Long-term Deal: L.J. Smith
The Eagles remain concerned about Smith’s health and likely won’t agree to a long-term extension without seeing improvement on the field. This is basically a one-year option to retain a talented, system TE in a very weak free agent market for tight ends.
How did we do in our predictions?
We previewed each division and our thoughts on potential tag candidates. Overall, I’d say we did quite well.
- We correctly predicted 9 of 10 ‘definites’; our only whiff was on Randy Moss
- We noted that Flozell Adams and Ken Hamlin were possibilities in Dallas [although we leaned toward Adams]
- We noted that Brown and Trufant were possibilities in Seattle [and leaned toward Trufant]
- We noted DT Corey Williams and WR Bernard Berrian as possible tags [one out of two]
- We suggested that Justin Smith shouldn’t be tagged
Now it’s onto free agency and the NFL draft!
Related Blogs:
- ‘Tis the Season for Tagging
- NFC East Potential Tag Candidates
- NFC North Potential Tag Candidates
- NFC South Potential Tag Candidates
- NFC West Potential Tag Candidates
- AFC East Potential Tag Candidates
- AFC North Potential Tag Candidates
- AFC South Potential Tag Candidates
- AFC West Potential Tag Candidates
The Cardinals have two free agent linebackers that are among the most compelling options in free agency: 
The Seahawks don’t want to lose their star place kicker and, as a result, may tag him again. Recall that Browns was the team’s franchise player last season, but the team was unable to come to terms on a multi-year deal. Given the modest differential between the top paid kickers and the middle-of-the-road alternatives, the Seahawks would be foolish to let Brown enter free agency; either they will sign him long-term over the next week or he’ll get tagged because…
The ‘hawks don’t want to be in the position of having to let Marcus Trufant hit the open market. Trufant is one of the best young corners in the league and, were he to hit free agency, could potentially garner the kind of monster offer Nate Clements received from San Francisco last season. Our bet is that Seattle comes to terms with Brown on a deal in the next few days, allowing them to tag Trufant.
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