The NFL's deadline for franchise-tagged players to ink a long-term deal has come and gone.
As expected, Monday hit 4 p.m. ET without a trio of tagged players -- Le'Veon Bell, Kirk Cousins and Trumaine Johnson -- striking new deals.
While Bell and the Steelersbargained until the deadline, Cousins and Johnson were unlikely candidates for an extension.
Washington certainly tried with Cousins. The team engaged in offseason-long contract talks with its starting quarterback, with the Redskins making their top offer back in May, per the team. That offer was a five-year extension worth less than $110 million, a source informed of the negotiations told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
After Monday's deadline passed, Redskins president Bruce Allen issued a rather intense statement about their efforts to sign the 28-year-old passer:
With talks on hold, Cousins will play under the $23.9 million franchise tag after making $19.9 million under the tag last season. It's hardly a bad deal for the veteran.
After all, tagging Cousins next year would cost Washington a wild $35 million. The Redskins could use the transition tag -- at a cost of $28.7 million -- but that would allow other clubs to reward the signal-caller with an offer Washington can't match.
As for Johnson, there was zero indication the Rams would offer a long-term deal to the 27-year-old cornerback. Still unconvinced Johnson is a fit for coordinator Wade Phillips' scheme, Los Angeles spent the offseason trying to trade the cover man.
Instead, Johnson will make $16.7 million under the tag after netting $13.9 million in tag-pay last season. It's an incredible amount of money for a player who easily could be with another team come 2018.
