Mar 710 min read

Tag!

Stage two of the NFL off-season is on it's final lap with the deadline to franchise-tag players now over, leaving a storm of buzz and electricity to push us to the new year starting on March 13th. Broncos are set to release Russell Wilson prior to June 1st, Dalton Schultz and Mike Evans skip out on free agency to stay put, and the tag deadline sparked havoc as a slew of the biggest impending free agents get put on lock-mode by their respected teams.

This year's franchise-tag deadline rang major noise in the final moments prior to the timer, taking major flame off the free agency fire. We still have a historic RB class and solid depth across the market, but the prized names expected to hit the open market; instead are wrapped in chains and locked from leaving. In total, eight players were tagged this cycle. Seven of the eight being slapped with the tag on the day of the deadline. Highlighted by star defensive players and two stud wide receivers, the tag list is quite valuable this cycle. Lets take a peak at each tagged player and discuss what each team should do next. In my opinion of course.

My feelings on the franchise-tag have sure changed over recent years. In the world of sports business, you gotta be selfish, but smart when controlling a budget and the future of a franchise. NFL gives it's clubs a glorious tool to use each year with the franchise tag. A tool given to help create proper investments and avoid negative ones. Investing in a single player long-term after one highly successful season, statistically isn't a good choice to make. Nor is allowing a stud player to walk into free agency, and potentially to a new team without receiving any assets or capital for that said player. The tag is a huge tool, rather the players like it or not (they don't like it).

This year is no different in proving the value of the franchise tag for a front office that knows how to use the tool. Yes... some cats abuse the tool or just don't understand the correct use of it. This year we had two cornerbacks in L'Jarius Sneed and Jaylon Johnson, who had breakout career years in '23, set to potentially enter free agency to demand a long-term bag. That caused some pressure upon their respected teams in the Chiefs (Sneed) and Bears (Johnson). We also had two young stud wide-receivers seeking long-term bags and a variety of defensive studs doing the same with their teams in fear mode to retain them. Did the teams make the right choice to tag? What's next? I have thoughts for each.

Bears had to tag CB Jaylon Johnson; they had to! It was a no-brainer type of decision for GM Ryan Poles and co. You can't afford Johnson to walk into free agency with the increase of the cap and him wanting to cash in on his breakout season. One of those squads in the top six of available cap space would surely be dumb and open the vault for his services. Bears do the right thing and buy themselves some time regarding Johnson as they are in the midst of a very important off-season.

So, what happens next with the breakout corner in Chicago? Bears have three immediate options after tagging Johnson: find a trade suitor, extend him by the July 15th deadline, or play him on the $19.8M tag to make him back up his season from last- prior to extending him after the '24 campaign. I believe they need to go with option three... unless they get an outta this world trade offer. Look, Johnson was elite last season. Advanced metrics and stats, the cat was on another level and played like a top corner in the league. That's great and all, but this is the NFL; this is a business. Johnson needs to prove that was no fluke season before I would invest a ton of money, guaranteed money at that, on him for the long-term. Extending him to a long-term deal this off-season would be foolish and a mistake. Johnson was elite, but he needs to prove he is elite-elite if you get my drift.

Poles has a lot of to-dos on his checkboard to get the Bears organization to the next level with an ultra-important off-season this spring. He can't afford any more f***-ups. Paying Johnson after one season would add to that list he has built. A list that is going to be multiplied when he trashes Justin Fields for Caleb Williams (please-please don't).

Chiefs float in the same boat as the Bears do with a stud corner of their own. Kansas City now faces a decision regarding their stud corner-back L'Jarius Sneed and his future with the org. as he plans to ask for a bag after a career year. The tag allows them the time to think on that decision as they must prioritize and reel in Chris Jones before the pirates come up the waters on the 13th. The decision to tag Sneed was a no-brainer.

Chiefs have to retain DT Chris Jones. A massive priority. Surely more than retaining Sneed. That's not a drag, nor cap, just plain fact. I do think extending Sneed long-term is more willing than the Bears extending Jaylon Johnson. Sneed is an important piece, but a replaceable one. Making the decision to extend him difficult, especially when the Chiefs have Trent McDuffie on the other side. They have the same three options as the Bears.

I think you seek trade suitors for Sneed and see what kind of return you can get. Chiefs face a tough off-season this year, but the next is just as tough as the contracts of Nick Bolton, Trey Smith, and Creed Humphrey are up. KC has just under $10Ms to work with in cap space this off-season. Jones will use that up if they can resign him in free agency. Chiefs just don't have the dough to sign Sneed to a top 3 or 5 contract among corners. But under NO circumstances do you allow Sneed to leave the 'chise for nothing in return. If you can't find a trade suitor by the fall deadline, then you play him out on the tag to maximize your roster for the three-peat attempt.

As it's a bummer that we won't see teams get in a bidding war over the stud edge, Josh Allen- Jaguars nation is jumping up in excitement knowing they still have one of the league's most dangerous defenders... for now that is. Jacksonville did right by not allowing Allen to hit the open market to discuss a bag with other teams, but they must lock him up long-term; before the July 15th deadline. That is the next move for Jacksonville.

Josh Allen had a breakout campaign in '23 posting 17.5 sacks, and has only gotten better as each season passes in his young career. Jags must continue to build their defense around him. It will cost some coin, but it must be done. The roster is solid in Jacksonville, with big cred going to Allen's production as the leader of the defense. Losing him will create a massive hole and will hurt the Jaguars of having any recent success. You can bring that to the bank, cha heard. Paying him $24M on the tag is a waste when you know he is in the long-term plans... or sure as hell better be. Extend him and move your focus onward. It will also allow you to set, structure, and capitalize on a budget for the future. Jags just need to have Allen in their future's blueprint.

Many people are blinded by the Panthers' decision to tag edge Brian Burns. I think it was the worst decision of the eight tags this cycle, especially when I consider the trades they have declined for him. This Carolina team has no business payin' a $24M tag in 2024 for an edge rusher with all that they have to clean up. They have no business resigning Burns long-term at that. This better be a tag-and-trade in the works.

Panthers turning down a trade from the Rams last year which included consecutive first-round picks is a lapse of judgement that is sure to come around and bite them in the ass. I highly doubt that they will receive any trade(s) quite like that for Burns this go around. Not after his decline in production. They may not receive ANY bites at this point. They waited until the last moment and now are in panic mode. Playing Burns on a $24M tag is not a good consolation prize. Not for the Panthers. Hopefully they can flip him for some assets/capital, but if they can't, this is a major shaking of the head move from Dan Morgan. I get wanting to keep one of your best talents on the least talented roster in the NFL, but you have to understand the big picture regarding a rebuild. Burns asking for $30Ms annually is not part of that rebuild. Right? Hmm.

Buccaneers clamp the lock on All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. in hopes to sign him to a long-term deal. Winfield Jr. has earned an extension in Tampa Bay & I hope it happens. The cap room is questionable as they sit just below the league average in cap space available, but extending Winfield needs to be on their pre July 15th agenda. Winfield has been one of their most productive all-around players since entering the league, and is coming off a career year earning an All-Pro nod.

Sure, the $17.2M tag isn't too steep, but come on. Extend the cat. I'd be shocked if his demands are too high. The two should be able to agree on a deal. The restructures and cap saves done by the Bucs this week should help it come before the July deadline. They did the first step in stopping him from hitting the open market, now they need to finish the job and reach an extension agreement.

Madubuike had a breakout season in '23 posting 13.0 sacks as well as career highs in every statistical category. In first ponder, I thought the tag was a meh decision. After consideration, I feel it was the right choice. The tag is a tool; Ravens are using it to keep a productive performer in an off-season that has several impending free agents while working with negative cap space.

Of all the Ravens' free agents this rodeo, Madubuike would certainly have cost the most to retain, despite him having just one successful season. Tagging him was a perfect choice to reduce the damages on defense. Tagging him over Patrick Queen is also a notable note on the decision. Queen may be heading out unless his demands are reasonable. The tag assures the Ravens won't lose Queen AND Madubuike. Not yet at least. I wouldn't rush an extension until they have other responsibilities taken care of. The cap situation makes that so. Plus, having Madubuike on a prove it year is a good thing for Baltimore. I like the decision to tag. The DT price value is steep, but his presence in the middle of the trench is ultra-important for the Ravens defense that just lost their DC.

Now the two receivers. Bengals let off the first spoil in stage two when they tagged Tee Higgins, removing him from the open market. Don't have to explain this decision being smart. A no-brainer for Cincy. Can't allow the 25-year old Higgins to walk into free agency, leaving the franchise empty handed. You either keep the power receiving duo of Chase/Higgins (extend Tee) or you receive assets for Higgins whom wishes to be paid and played as a number one receiver. What will the Bengals do?

Cincinnati now has some time to decide what they should do next with Higgins. I think they need to seek a trade suitor with high-ish demands, first and foremost. While still talking to Tee on an extension. Do I believe Higgins is capable of being a number one? Absolutely. Does he have the reps or stats for the Bengals to be the team to open the bank? That's going to be the decision they have to make. A similar decision that the Eagles will need to make in '26 regarding DeVonta Smith. With the Joe Burrow investment; you have to keep as many weapons around Burrow as you can. Extend Higgins if the price isn't outrageous. Sitting with $50M+ in cap space helps the decision feel more safe.

Bengals' rushing attack doesn't give off too much fear, and they will need to decide on moving on from Joe Mixon as the feature back. Keeping Higgins gives Burrow a top wide receiving duo for the foreseeable future. Easy decision unless they are taken away by a mega-trade offer. Look for a decision to be made by July 15th. I'd be surprised if he plays the whole season on the tag; it would be ok if he did though. Business is business.

Colts tagging Michael Pittman Jr. is a bit different of a situation compared to Higgins and Cincy. Losing Pittman, their number one wideout, would have created another hole for the Colts to fill in an already busy stage two and three. With their depth weak at the skill positions, and despite the pricy WR tag, the Colts make a solid decision here. Anthony Richardson showed he has potential as a starting QB before being knocked to the shelf. Colts now need to build around him and add more weapons. Losing Pittman makes you need to add even more.

With Mike Evans and Higgins no longer available, the WR depth in free agency is going to be weak. Pittman Jr. would have been the top guy available. So, the tag makes sense. They could have used the transition tag like the Patriots did with S Kyle Dugger, but the franchise-tag assures that Pittman Jr. will be a Colt for at least one more season, barring a trade. The next move for Indy should be listening to trade offers and light contract talks with Pittman. Paying him as a top-10 receiver is silly. He has been good for the Colts, but come on. He isn't a top 15 receiver in the league and should be paid within reason.

A week from now stage two will transition into stage 3. The loudest stage of the bunch. The 2024 Free Agency gates are soon going to open with several teams ready to open the doors to their vaults. The coming days will bring more cuts and moves prior to the 13th. A nice little setup. One more week and the new campaign officially begins. One more week and the noise across the front offices will spark the skies across the football world. Run it up.

Tag!

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