The NFL new league year begins on Wednesday. Despite all sports being nonexistent until the summer due to COVID-19, the NFL will still allow NFL Free Agency to take place. Teams can now legally tamper with free agents, but can’t officially sign until this Wednesday. Just for now they can negotiate contracts and verbally agree to deals.
FRANCHISE TAG DEFINED:
“In the National Football League, the franchise tag is a designation a team may apply to a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. … The tag options allow NFL franchises an extended bargaining period for a player that they feel is key to their success.”
The Franchise Tag deadline was Monday at 11am, here is who was tagged by their respected team.
QB Dak Prescott – Dallas Cowboys
The Jones family could not get a deal done with either Dak Prescott or Amari Cooper by Monday’s deadline. Instead of tagging Cooper and letting Prescott test the market, they did the opposite. This was expected.
DL Chris Jones – Kansas City Chiefs
This seemed as something that was bound to happen. The reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs have made it known they do not want their top pass rusher to go anywhere.
WR AJ Green – Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow is somewhere doing the happy dance after hearing this news. Burrow, who obviously will be the top pick come April, will now have a top wide receiver to throw to in Cincinnati for at least one year.
EDGE Shaq Barrett – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This was an easy choice for Tampa. Was either the man who threw 30 interceptions or the man who got you 19.5 sacks a season ago.
S Justin Simmons – Denver Broncos
Simmons is just 26-years-old and he logged 93 total tackles, plus had 4 interceptions in 2019. The Broncos want to get a long-term deal done with their young safety.
OL Brandon Scherff – Washington Redskins
Need someone to block for Haskins….or Tua. Especially with Trent Williams wanting a trade.
EDGE Yannick Ngakoue – Jacksonville Jaguars
One of the top edge rushers in the NFL, but he has made it known he does not want to play for Jacksonville anymore. Trade incoming?
EDGE Bud Dupree – Pittsburgh Steelers
This happened on Monday and the 2015 first-round pick was a stud when playing on the other side of TJ Watt. He had 11.5 sacks in 2019.
OL Joe Thuney – New England Patriots
This was a little bit of a surprise, but maybe the idea is to have him back to protect…Tom Brady?
RB Derrick Henry – Tennessee Titans
This is easy. Titans signed Ryan Tennehill to a long term deal, so they had to keep Henry one way or another. This allows them time to sign their work horse to a long term deal.
TE Hunter Henry – Los Angeles Chargers
Henry is one of the top young tight ends in the NFL, when healthy. The tag allows Henry to remain healthy and play on a prove it deal. But, who will be throwing Henry the ball in 2020?
DL Leonard Williams – New York Giants
This was a little shocker, but the men inside the Giants facility must think he is ready for a breakout year. The Giants traded a fourth-round pick to the New York Jets for Williams last season.
EDGE Matt Judon – Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens just traded for Calais Campbell on Sunday. In 2019, Judon was accountable for the 26% of the Ravens sacks. A dominant defense just got even stronger heading into 2020.
RB Kenyan Drake – Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals see Drake as a better fit in their offense. David Johnson who was once one of the best running backs in the NFL, has been traded to the Houston Texans. So this makes sense.
