By the close of NFL business on Monday, a record 21 players received the franchise tag from their teams. The previous high for franchise tags being applied in one offseason was 14 (2009, 2011).
The higher amount of franchise tags being given out is due in large part to an agreement in the new CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement). Previously, if a team placed the franchise tag on a player, the player was guaranteed a salary commensurate with the five highest-paid players at his position in the previous year.
However, the new CBA calculates a five-year average of the five highest-paid players at each position. Therefore, the five-year average is much lower than the previous year’s franchise salaries. The cost to franchise a player at any position dropped considerably this year and more teams felt inclined to use the tag.
The new rules regarding the franchise tag made its use more conducive to notoriously thrifty franchises such as Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Jacksonville. Mind you, each of these four teams placed their franchise tag on a kicker. In all, five kickers were tagged and one punter as well.
There is nothing wrong with placing a franchise tag on a specialist, especially if you’re hesitant to guarantee money to a kicker. But, outside of Adam Vinatieri in his prime or maybe Sebastian Janikowski now, is there a kicker worth placing the franchise tag on? In theory, a team could sign the kicker to a long-term deal and use the franchise tag to keep a position player in town for at least another season.
The most notable player franchised was Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees. Not every position player who was franchised was as well known as Brees.
The Dallas Cowboys placed their franchise tag on outside linebacker Anthony Spencer. Spencer, a five-year veteran, is now guaranteed $8.8 million once he signs the franchise tender.
Playing on the opposite side of the best pass-rusher in the NFL, DeMarcus Ware, one would think a player who would rack up the sacks. In five years in the NFL, Spencer has a total of 21.5 sacks. He has a career-high of six, which he has reached twice.
Now most will agree that sacks are somewhat of an overrated statistic, but it should be cause for concern that Spencer has so few playing alongside Ware. Not to take anything away from Spencer, he is solid in coverage and strong against the run. But, teams who employ the 3-4 defense expect the outside linebackers to be strong pass-rushers.
In the case of the Cowboys, placing the tag on Spencer was more about not having someone ready to replace him. They know he is a good, solid player who doesn’t miss games. Essentially, it buys them another year to see if they can find someone better and not have to fill another hole if they had let Spencer walk.
The Philadelphia Eagles tagged mercurial wide receiver DeSean Jackson rather than give him a long-term deal. Jackson is a good player. However, he is not one of the five best wide receivers in the NFL. The Eagles realize he is one of the better all-around play makers in the league and were hesitant to let him go for nothing. It is doubtful Jackson gets a long-term deal from the Eagles.
The Washington Redskins used their tag on tight end Fred Davis. Davis, who had his breakout season in 2011, was suspended for the last four games of the season for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse program.
In the case of the Redskins, they like Davis. They want to keep him long-term, but the team wants to see how he reacts to his suspension. Will he continue to build off the momentum of his best season? Or will he run afoul of the league’s drug program again?
Teams place franchise tags on players for different reasons. But, is it time the name of the tag is changed? Besides Brees, and possibly Ray Rice and Matt Forte, no other player who received the tag is a franchise player. All are good to very good at their given position, but franchise players? That would mean each year it is possible for there to be 32 franchise players annually.
Many would argue the franchise tag shouldn’t even exist. When players finish out their contract, they have lived up to their end of the deal. Contractually, they earned the right to shop themselves to the highest bidder. But, the franchise tag is good for the NFL teams and the fans. And getting guaranteed millions for one season can’t be that bad, right?
Moving forward, should the franchise tag be renamed the above-average tag? Of course that isn’t going to happen, but it is beyond time to change the name of the franchise tag.
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