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| Ben Liebenberg / NFL.com |
| RB Darren Sproles' future in San Diego is up in the air while the team figures out what to do with LaDainian Tomlinson. |
The New England Patriots kicked off the 2009 "tag" season by slapping a non-exclusive franchise tag on quarterback Matt Cassel worth $14.65 million.
Not bad for a guy who made $520,000 in 2008.
The New York Giants followed suit by tagging running back Brandon Jacobs on Friday. As a franchise player, he is guaranteed $6.62 million. Jacobs' 2008 total salary was just over $1 million.
Matt Cassel was the first player franchised in '09. Learn more about exclusive and non-exclusive franchise tags, and check out the top five salaries at each position. Read more ... » Feb. 13 Pat Kirwan chat
Feb. 19 is the deadline for teams to place a franchise tag on a single player to restrict his ability to leave when free agency starts.
Not every team uses the tag every year, and this offseason is no exception. At least half of the teams will not exercise their right to franchise or transition a player. They might not believe they have a worthy candidate for a tag, they might not have the salary-cap space to tag a player or they might believe they can get a deal done after free agency starts and the player tests the market.
Here's a look at teams with legitimate tag options this year, and how I think they will use them:
Arizona Cardinals
We might hear late rumors about tagging quarterback Kurt Warner, but in the end, it should be linebacker Karlos Dansby, who was tagged last year. The 20 percent rule comes into play here, which would give Dansby a 20 percent increase over his 2008 salary. That means the franchise tag for Dansby would be worth $9.678 million.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons placed the franchise tag on Michael Koenen, guaranteeing the punter $2.48 million. Linebacker Michael Boley might have received some consideration. His franchise tag would have been worth $8.879 million.
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| Streeter Lecka / Getty Images |
| Look for the Ravens to place the franchise tag on LB Terrell Suggs again. |
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have three starting linebackers with expiring contracts. They could either let Ray Lewis test the market or sign him prior to free agency, but they won't tag him at $11.3 million because of the 20 percent rule. The Ravens probably will tag Terrell Suggs, who was franchised last year. This time, it will be a one-year, $10.2 million deal. It would be great if they could sign Suggs and then tag Bart Scott at $8.3 million or safety Jim Leonhard at $6.34 million, but it looks as if the Ravens will lose at least one or probably two defensive starters in free agency.
Carolina Panthers
Defensive end Julius Peppers requires a $17 million tag because of the 20 percent rule, and the Panthers would have to use all of their cap space to get that done and still might have to cut a player before Feb. 27. Jordan Gross is a quality starting left tackle, and his franchise tag would be $8.45 million, so it looks like Gross to me.
Chicago Bears
They might consider safety Mike Brown but should pass.
Cincinnati Bengals
They had the cap space to tag wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh at $9.88 million, and I would have done it, but they decided to pass, giving it instead to kicker Shayne Graham. Having Houshmandzadeh under contract would have kept the leverage on Chad Johnson, who is quiet right now, though anything can happen.
Detroit Lions
The Lions have made mistakes with the tag in the past, but this time, it's kicker Jason Hanson or no one. A one-year franchise tag is the way to go with Hanson, who's 38. There's no telling when he hits the wall, even though he made 95 percent of his field goals last season.
Houston Texans
Tight end Owen Daniels is a restricted free agent, and a high tender would secure his services, but the Texans should tag cornerback Dunta Robinson. They have plenty of cap space and can't afford to take a step back in pass defense with the Colts in the same division.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are up against the salary cap, but they would love to tag cornerback Kelvin Hayden if they can't sign him to a long-term deal. However, a $9.96 million tag for a team with no cap space and other players to sign probably rules that out. The Colts can only go back to the Bank of Peyton Manning so many times to create cap space. Look for a few big cuts in the next few weeks to open up space.
Miami Dolphins
It wouldn't surprise me if the Dolphins don't tag anyone, but they have the cap space to secure one player. I think safety Yeremiah Bell, with a $6.34 million tag, is the guy, and then the Dolphins take their chances at offensive tackle with Vernon Carey. It's a good year in the draft for tackles and a questionable year for safeties.
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| Al Bello / Getty Images |
| Giants RB Brandon Jacobs could be a franchise-tag candidate for years to come. |
New England Patriots
The team already placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Cassel.
New York Giants
The Giants had the cap space to tag Jacobs at $6.62 million, and that's exactly what they did. I might even consider leaving him on the tag and going year-to-year for a while.
Oakland Raiders
Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha was an exclusive franchise player last year at $9.765 million. He reportedly cleaned out his locker at the end of the season, and now the Raiders have to use an $11.7 million tag to keep him, which would blow out their salary cap. They might resort to keeping punter Shane Lechler on a franchise tag at $2.48 million. The Raiders have well over $34 million in roster bonuses due to players this offseason, so cash will be tight.
St. Louis Rams
They might consider tagging safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, but I think they will pass.
San Diego Chargers
What are the Chargers' real plans with LaDainian Tomlinson? Answer that question, and you'll know what they are doing with Darren Sproles. If general manager A.J. Smith believes he can get two quality years out of LT, then he can let Sproles go and find a running back in the draft. Smith found Michael Turner and Sproles in the draft, and this draft has good backs in the second and third rounds. LT is scheduled to make $6.75 million, and the running back franchise tag is worth $6.62 million, but $13.37 million for two running backs isn't good business.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Everyone says the team should tag wide receiver Antonio Bryant. Not so fast. The Bucs need to sign tackle Donald Penn first and then talk about Bryant. If Penn gets locked up, I would talk about a transition tag for Bryant. He had a great year in 2008, but he has a history that suggests some risk, and I'm not sure the market for him is so great. Thanks to former general manager Bruce Allen, the Bucs have lots of cap space and could match any offer that Bryant would receive on the open market. I suspect the other 31 teams will paint a different picture of Bryant's true value.
Tennessee Titans
Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth can't be tagged because of a negotiation in a previous contract, and that leaves tight end Bo Scaife and kicker Rob Bironas. Tennessee needs to use its ample cap space to sign at least one before Feb. 19 and tag the other one. The franchise tags for tight ends and kickers are the lowest of all positions.
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