The deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign long-term deals was yesterday afternoon. Seven franchise-tagged players entered the final day of negotiations without a long-term deal. Only one received the job security of a long-term deal.
Ten players were slapped with the franchise tag this offseason.
Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
Justin Simmons, S, Denver Broncos
Leonard Williams, DL, New York Giants
Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Marcus Maye, S, New York Jets
Taylor Moton, OT, Carolina Panthers
Allen Robinson, WR, Chicago Bears
Cam Robinson, OT, Jacksonville Jaguars
Brandon Scherff, OG, Washington Football Team
Marcus Williams, S, New Orleans Saints
Dak Prescott, Justin Simmons, and Leonard Williams avoided the various trappings of the franchise tag by quickly signing nice, long-term deals with their respective teams.
Prescott: signed a whopping six-year, $240 million deal
Simmons: signed a four-year, $61 million deal
Williams: signed a three-year $63 million deal
That left seven players spending the entirety of the offseason with only the franchise tag tying them to their teams for a single season. Each had signed the tag. They had a healthy contract for the 2021 season. They had no multi-year security or hefty signing bonus. Those are the trappings of the franchise tag. Players hate it. Teams hate it a little less. For all of the league’s 102 seasons, teams have tried to restrict and control player movement. Each offseason, the franchise tag gives them a little control over a single player. Despite the stupidity of the franchise tag, the owners have grasped it like a life preserver since the introduction of free agency in 1993. Anyway, seven franchise-tagged players entered the final day of negotiations looking for a long-term deal. The Carolina Panthers and offensive tackle Taylor Moton were the only team and player to agree to a long-term deal. With a 4-year, $72 million deal, Moton is now one of the league’s highest-paid right tackles.
Six players will play the 2021 season on their franchise tag. As an average of the top contracts at their position, the tag is a nice one-year deal but it’s only a one-year deal. There’s no multi-year security. There’s no big signing bonus.
Chris Godwin: $15.983 million
Marcus Maye: $10.612 million
Allen Robinson: $17.88 million
Cam Robinson: $13.754 million
Brandon Scherff: $18.036 million
Marcus Williams : $10.612 million
A couple of the above franchise tag contracts require some explaining. Despite playing the same position, Allen Robinson’s contract is higher than Chris Godwin’s because of his 2020 contract. Robinson was playing for the Bears on the second-contract deal that he signed as a free agent a few years ago. Godwin was playing for the Buccaneers on his rookie contract. Franchise tag contracts are the average of the best-paid players at their position OR 120-percent of the player’s salary from the previous season. Whichever number is higher. In this case, Robinson gets a few million more than Godwin. Brandon Scheff’s franchise tag contract tops that of fellow offensive lineman Cam Robinson because Scherff’s being tagged for a second consecutive season. Washington’s continued inability to negotiate a long-term deal for their best offensive player is forcing them to pay a guard $18.036 million. That’s about $2 million more than the league’s next highest paid guard.
Congratulations to Taylor Moton on the new deal.
Congratulation to Minnesota Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill on another positional benchmark for his new deal.
No comments:
Post a Comment