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

When today’s deadline ended for franchise tag designations, the word spread like wildfire that Randy Moss was NOT tagged by the Patriots; despite catching 23 TDs this season and helping the Patriots to the best offensive output in league history. While many (myself included) expected Moss to be tagged, it now seems that the lack of a tag may not be what it seems.

According to NFL rules, a player can’t have their contract re-done more than once in a calendar year and so, it’s possible that Randy Moss has ALREADY COME TO A NEW AGREEMENT but, because of the aforementioned rule, cannot be officially announced until February 29th.

While we won’t know officially for another week, it seems incomprehensible that the Patriots would’ve seriously allowed Randy Moss to enter unrestricted free agency without some protection. After all, he did enjoy (almost) the best season by a WR in league history.

We’ve been talking a lot about the franchise tag designation in recent days, and Raiders CB Nmandi Asomugha was among our list of potential candidates. While it wasn’t surprising to see him tagged, it’s notable that the Raiders went above and beyond the conventional franchise tag by designating Asomugha an EXCLUSIVE franchise player.

How does that differ from the conventional (or non-exclusive) franchise tag designation?

• The player is guaranteed the average of the top 5 players at his position for the CURRENT (upcoming) year [the non-exclusive uses average salaries of the prior year]
• The player is not allowed to negotiate with any other team [non-exclusive tags allow for a team to accept 2 first round picks if another team signs the player]

When you’re 6′6″, 320 pounds and coming off a dominant (40 tackles, 6 sacks in 12 starts) performance for an improving team; the franchise tag designation isn’t something that should come as a surprise. When you also happen to be only 26 years old; it really becomes a no-brainer. Such was the case for Albert Haynesworth, who was tagged by the Tennessee Titans.

Obviously both sides hope this move will lead to a long-term contract:

“This is a step in the process with Albert,” general manager Mike Reinfeldt said. “This designation gives us more time to work on a long-term contract with him. He was a dominant player for us this past season and one of the key components to our success on defense.”‘

Dallas Clark was given the franchise tag designation by the Colts today. Expect Clark to sign the tender, guaranteeing him $4.522 million. More likely, he and the team will come to terms on a long-term deal before the July deadline.

While this move was widely expected, it does officially leave the free agent market thin at tight end.

Top Free Agent Tight Ends

1. Dallas Clark (IND)
2. L.J. Smith (PHI)
3. Alge Crumpler (ATL) **
4. Bo Scaife (TEN) ***
5. Eric Johnson (NO)
6. Marcus Pollard (SEA)
7. Ben Troupe (TEN)

** = Released by 2007 team
*** = Restricted free agent

Houston Texans

The Texans don’t appear to have anyone that would warrant a franchise or transition tag designation.

Indianapolis Colts

TE Dallas Clark

The Colts would be well served to tag Dallas Clark if they can’t come to terms on an extension in the next week. Clark has evolved into one of Peyton Manning’s most reliable receivers and, from what we understand, is one of his best friends on the team to boot. With the Eagles decision to tag L.J. Smith, Clark becomes far and away the most attractive free agent tight end; the last thing the Colts want is to let Clark get into the open market.

sssss

Jacksonville Jaguars

Most of the Jaguars free agents are expendable, with only Quinn Gray and Ernest Wilford likely to be priorities. That said, neither player warrants the franchise or transition tag designations.

Tennessee Titans

DT Albert Haynesworth

Albert Hayneworth may be a controversial player and, from a personality standpoint, may not be the optimal guy to have in the locker room. That said, the Titans are faced with a difficult decision because Hayneworth’s on-field value is nearly unmatched at any position this offseason. At 6′6″, 320 pounds and only 26 years old, Haynesworth is the kind of defensive tackle that never sees the light of free agency. Expect the Titans to tag Haynesworth in order to continue negotiations on a long-term deal. It’s not out of the question the team would trade him, but not without significant value in return.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons are unlikely to use either the franchise or transition tag designations this offseason.

Carolina Panthers

OT Jordan Gross

The Panthers could lose both tackles in free agency, which would be an inauspicious outcome for a team that has to make a playoff push to appease fans and ownership this season. While Gross may not be one of the five best tackles in football, he is a promising young player with starting experience on both sides of the line. Expect the team to try to lock him down to a multi-year deal or he’ll probably get tagged by February 21st.

xxxx

New Orleans Saints

Two important members of the offensive line, C Jeff Faine and OG Jamar Nesbit are free agents, but neither is expected to be tagged as the Saints look toward taking a rational approach toward bringing back some of their key free agent contributors.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs are unlikely to use either tag designation on their free agents; none would warrant the type of financial commitment a tag brings with it.

Baltimore Ravens

LB Terrell Suggs

Suggs has five years in the league yet won’t turn 26 until October. Although his sack totals were down this year (just 5), he’s a proven play-maker who is many years younger than a typical marquee free agent. The Ravens can ill afford to let him leave after losing Adalius Thomas last offseason.

xxxxx

Cincinnati Bengals

DE Justin Smith

Last season the Bengals opted to tag DE Justin Smith despite questions about whether he was an elite defensive end. The logic was that he was a hard worker, and one of the few plus defenders on a defense that needed lots of improvement. Fast forward to this offseason and reports are again surfacing that Smith may get tagged; which, if true, begs the question: WHY? Smith notched only 2 sacks last year and has never had more than the 8.5 of his rookie season. The Bengals defense was awful last year and is more than one player away. In addition, the team has other major issues at play including: T.J. Houshmandzadeh wants a raise, Chad Johnson isn’t necessarily happy, and the team has other key free agents (Williams, Andrews, Johnson).

Cleveland Browns

The Browns resurgent 2007 brings with it challenges in free agency. RB Jamal Lewis gambled on a one-year deal last year and delivered a monster season which should bring him a market rate, multi-year deal. While Lewis is important to the Browns, his age and career workload likely precludes them from tagging him. The other major free agent is QB Derek Anderson; but Anderson is a restricted free agent so Cleveland has the right to match any offer. As a result, don’t look for the Browns to use either designation.

Pittsburgh Steelers

OG Alan Faneca is the best free agent guard on the market, and has been an important cog in the Steelers offensive machine for years. Yet, I’m not listing him as a potential tag candidate because the Steelers seem ready to let him leave via free agency.

Chicago Bears

WR Bernard Berrian

The Bears probably aren’t going to use their tags; but there’s an outside chance the team tags WR Bernard Berrian. If not with the franchise tag, than possibly the transition tag. Berrian has developed into the team’s best receiver and, given his size and age, would be highly coveted if the Bears let him get into the open market.

Note: Some of you have asked why I didn’t include LB Lance Briggs as an option. Although Briggs is certainly worthy of the designation, the Bears agreed not to tag him this season after he agreed to sign his one-year tender last offseason.

Detroit Lions

The Lions are unlikely to use their tag designations this offseason.

Green Bay Packers

DT Corey Williams

Corey Williams is a long shot to be tagged, but he plays a coveted position and has proven himself a disruptive interior pass rusher (7 sacks in consecutive seasons). If the Packers don’t tag him, they stand an excellent chance of losing his services to a team willing to pay him premium money with an eye toward making him a full-time starter.

xxxx

xxxx

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are unlikely to use their designations this offseason; none of their potential free agents would justify the financial commitment.

Arizona Cardinals

LB Karlos Dansby

The Cardinals have two free agent linebackers that are among the most compelling options in free agency: Karlos Dansby and Calvin Pace. While Pace is talented and someone the Cardinals would like to have back, it’s Dansby that’s almost assuredly going to be tagged because he’s emerging as one of the preeminent defensive playmakers in the NFC.

     
St. Louis Rams

The Rams have a handful of free agents but none that warrant either the franchise or transition tag designation.

San Francisco 49ers

GM Scott McCloughan has gone on record saying the team has no intentions of using the franchise tag on any of its key free agents. The team has a few key free agents it would do well to retain (e.g., Isaac Sopaoga and Larry Allen) but neither are worth the kind of money a franchise designation would incur.

Seattle Seahawks

Option 1: PK Josh Brown

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…

Option 2: CB Marcus Trufant

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.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills are unlikely to tag anyone as their free agent outlook is rather minimal.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins have the first overall pick and plenty of needs, but are unlikely to commit a lot of money to any of their free agents. They likely want to retain a number of them (Rex Hadnot, Yeremiah Bell) but none deserve the kind of financial commitment a tag would involve.

New England Patriots

WR Randy Moss

The Patriots acquired Randy Moss last offseason and, to Moss’ credit, he took a one-year deal to prove himself. Well, an 18-1 record and an NFL record 23 TD receptions later, the Pats are in a difficult bargaining position. It seems absurd to believe the Patriots would let Moss walk, or that he would want to leave a team that allowed him to return to HOF form and has a great chance of getting him a ring. BUT…he took a discount last season and is going to want to be paid (justifiably so). Look for the Patriots to tag Moss with the idea of signing him to a long-term deal before the start of the 2008 season.

Note: Some people have asked why I don’t have All Pro CB Asante Samuel listed as a 2nd option. Simply put, Samuel was tagged last year and he agreed to sign the tender under the condition the Patriots couldn’t tag him again this season. Either the Patriots give Samuel a long-term contract or he’s free to walk. 

New York Jets

The Jets don’t have anyone that likely warrants their tag designations. LB Victor Hobson, S Erik Coleman, and OT Adrian Jones are all probably in line to return but for nowhere near franchise or transition tag dollars.

Dallas Cowboys

Option 1: OT Flozell Adams

Flozell Adams is an unrestricted free agent and could garner a tag if the team feels his services are indispensable. Adams is a 4-time Pro Bowler and played at an extremely high level in 2007. But at 32 years old (he’ll be 33 in May), he’s not someone that is really in line to get a long-term deal. If he’s unwilling to accept a 3-year deal; the team may have no choice but to tag him.

Option 2: S Ken Hamlin

Ken Hamlin is the best safety available in free agency and helped solidify a former weak spot this year. Franchising a safety is less of an economic burden than tackle; but it’s arguably easier to replace a safety via the draft than it is to find another offensive book end.

New York Giants

The Giants are unlikely to use the tag designations this offseason. Their only major free agents (Gibril Wilson, Reggie Torbor and Kawika Mitchell) are worthy of contract extensions but it would be difficult to justify paying any of them money that equates to the best at their respective positions.

Philadelphia Eagles

TE L.J. Smith

The Eagles have assigned the franchise tag designation to L.J. Smith; guaranteeing him $4.5mm this season (if he signs the tender). Although Smith was injured for much of the 2007 season, tagging him makes imminent sense given the lack of attractive alternatives in free agency. The Eagles get a chance to evaluate Smith before deciding whether to extend him long-term, and in turn Smith gets top 5 money despite a disappointing 2007 season. A win/win.

Washington Redskins

Much like the Giants, it’s unlikely the Redskins will use their tag designations this offseason. The Redskins have no marquee free agents that would justify the financial commitment, and happen to be the only team projected to be signficantly over the salary cap entering free agency.

Yesterday started the 15 day window when NFL teams can assign franchise and transition player designations on their potential free agents. Although the designations were initially created to protect teams from losing their best players, the tide has turned and now teams make liberal use of the tags as leverage against players year in, year out. With the NFL salary cap rising at a blistering pace in recent years, most teams have plenty of cap space and, as a result, the prospect of paying a one-year salary equal to top 5 money isn’t that difficult a pill to swallow.

Defining the tag designations (from NFLPA.org):

• Franchise Player: Each club may designate one player who would otherwise be an Unrestricted Free Agent as a Franchise Player. The designation must be made between February 7 and February 21 in the year 2008, and the club must tender the Franchise Player an offer equal to the average of the top five salaries in the League at the player’s position. If the tender offers the top five average applicable at the end of the previous season, the Franchise Player can seek offers from other clubs, but the old team can match the offer or receive two first round draft choices from the offering team. If the tender offers the top five average applicable at the end of the upcoming Restricted Free Agent signing period, the club retains exclusive rights to the player and he cannot negotiate with other teams. Franchise Player and Transition Player tenders become fully guaranteed for skill and football injury if the player chooses to accept the tender.

• Transition Players: A club can elect to use a Transition Player designation for one Unrestricted Free Agent instead of using its Franchise Player designation. If it does so, it must tender the player an offer equal to the average of the top 10 salaries in the League at his position. A Transition Player can obtain an offer from any other team, but his old team can only match or not match the offer – it cannot collect any draft choice compensation if it does not match.

2008 Tag Values

So which players are going to be tagged? We’ll find out soon enough but let’s take a team-by-team look and make some predictions:

• NFC East
• NFC North
• NFC South
• NFC West
• AFC East
• AFC North
• AFC South
• AFC West