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NFL NationESPN
The deadline for the NFL franchise tag has been extended to Monday.
Six teams — the Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers — already have decided to use the franchise tag, which binds the player to the team for one season. Franchise tag figures are based upon the top five salaries at each position.
Here’s a look at why the teams made the decision (players ranked in order of projected tag number):
Franchise tag salary: $19.3 million
Seasons: 4
Career highlights: Ngakoue is already second in franchise history with 37.5 sacks, and his 14 forced fumbles since he entered the league in 2016 are more than every player except Khalil Mack (17), Chandler Jones (17) and T.J. Watt (15) during that span.
Why he was tagged: The Jaguars were unable to work out a long-term deal last season, which led to Ngakoue skipping most of the voluntary workouts and OTAs and mandatory minicamp and holding out for 11 days at the start of training camp. He got off to a slow start because of a hamstring injury but finished with eight sacks and four forced fumbles in 2019. The thought was that the departure of Tom Coughlin (fired in December) would have made negotiations a little easier this offseason because Ngakoue’s camp was angered by Coughlin’s reported decision to cut off negotiations last July after roughly a month of talks. However, the sides made little, if any, progress and Ngakoue announced on March 2 that he told the Jaguars he didn’t want to sign a long-term deal.
What he brings: The knock on Ngakoue is that he doesn’t play the run well, but defensive coordinator Todd Wash has said multiple times that isn’t true. Ngakoue is a tireless worker, relentless player and disruptive rusher whose biggest strength is creating turnovers. Of the 12 defensive touchdowns the Jaguars have scored since 2016, Ngakoue is directly responsible for five: a pick-six, a fumble return and three forced fumbles on sacks that other players recovered for TDs. Four of those came in 2017, when the Jaguars made a surprising run to the AFC Championship Game and he had one last season. — Michael DiRocco
Franchise tag salary: $18.5 million
Seasons: 9
Career highlights: Green is a seven-time Pro Bowler who has been one of the NFL’s most productive receivers since he has been in the league.
Why he was tagged: Green didn’t play a single snap in 2019 after he tore multiple ankle ligaments during the first practice of the preseason. It added to an injury history that has increased over the years. He has missed 23 of the past 24 games. The two sides were unable to agree on a long-term deal before the tag was placed.
What he brings: When healthy, Green is one of the league’s most dynamic receivers. And if the Bengals take Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick as expected, Green could be a massive asset to aid the quarterback’s development during his rookie season. The Bengals also need another dynamic receiver to open up the passing attack. — Ben Baby
Franchise tag salary: $16.3 million
Seasons: 4
Career highlights: Judon is one of four NFL defenders to record at least 150 tackles, 70 quarterback hits, 40 tackles for loss and 20 sacks since 2017. He reached his first Pro Bowl last season after leading Baltimore with 9.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss.
Why he was tagged: The Ravens’ top priority this offseason is to upgrade their pass rush, and the team couldn’t let another edge rusher in his prime walk away in free agency like Za’Darius Smith did a year ago. Baltimore ranked 21st in the NFL last season with 37 sacks, its fewest since 2015. The tag was long expected for Judon, but now the real drama begins. Will the Ravens sign Judon to a long-term deal before the July 15 deadline? Will they tag-and-trade him (perhaps a swap for Jacksonville’s Yannick Ngakoue)? Or will the Ravens just use this as a one-year rental? Baltimore has a history of striking big-money extensions with franchise players (the last five tagged landed long-term deals), but there’s no such certainty with Judon.
What he brings: Judon was the only consistent pass-rusher on the Ravens last season. His 33 quarterback hits were 23 more than any other Ravens player in 2019. He is also considered a more all-around player than the likes of Ngakoue, just not as explosive. There are questions whether Judon is an elite pass-rusher. He’s never recorded double-digit sacks in a single season. He didn’t make a sack last season when part of a four-man rush (all came on blitzes). But there’s no denying Judon’s production. He was one of three defenders last season to total 50 tackles, 9 sacks, 30 quarterback hits and 4 forced fumbles. The others were Shaquil Barrett and T.J. Watt. — Jamison Hensley
Franchise tag salary: $15.5 million
Seasons: 4
Career highlights: Jones led the Chiefs in sacks in each of the past two seasons with 15.5 in 2018 and 9.0 last year.
Why he was tagged: The sides couldn’t agree on the terms of a multiyear contract and Jones is too productive for the Chiefs to let him walk without receiving some compensation. Jones could attract a trade offer from one or more teams that not only want a player of Jones’ caliber but are also in better financial position than the Chiefs to meet his salary demands. The Chiefs know how such trades work. They participated in two trades involving franchise players last season, acquiring Frank Clark from the Seahawks and sending Dee Ford to the 49ers.
What he brings: Few players have Jones’ ability as an inside pass-rusher. Jones is a remarkably consistent player. In 2018, he set an NFL record with at least one sack in 11 straight games. He had a big game in Super Bowl LIV against the 49ers. He knocked down three of Jimmy Garoppolo‘s passes and also got pressure on Garoppolo that led to a second-quarter interception. Jones and Clark make for a nice pass-rush combination that the Chiefs would rather not break up. Jones can also be disruptive in the running game. — Adam Teicher
Franchise tag salary: $12.7 million
Seasons: 4
Career highlights: His teammates believed he was one of the biggest Pro Bowl snubs in in the league this past season — he was voted second-team All-Pro — and last year was easily his best overall effort in his career. His athleticism and savvy are on display in every game, but one sticks out for many. As a rookie in 2016, he leapt over blockers in front of him to block an extra point attempt in New Orleans and the Broncos returned it for a game-winning two-point conversion.
Why he was tagged: Not only is Simmons one of the Broncos’ most versatile and prepared players, he is one of their most active in the community as well, given he was Denver’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. He has played every snap of the past two seasons, topping 1,000 in each of those years, and taken on a variety of roles, including nickel cornerback when the defense has had injuries. He is one of those players — on the field, in the locker room and in the community — who, if he’s not re-signed, other players have to wonder about their own chances of getting a new deal down the road.
What he brings: Simmons had his best overall season in 2019, his first year in Vic Fangio’s defense. His four interceptions were a career best as were his 15 passes defensed. He has the athleticism and route recognition ability to play deep as well as the physicality to play along the line of scrimmage. He is still an ascending player as he enters his fifth year, given he played far more mistake-free this past season as the Broncos played much better assignment football overall. — Jeff Legwold
Franchise tag salary: $11.1 million
Season: 4
Career highlights: Henry produced single-season career highs in 2019 with 55 receptions and 652 receiving yards. In three seasons, he ranks among the top 10 tight ends in Chargers history in receptions (136), yards (1,709) and touchdown catches (17).
Why he was tagged: Chargers general manager Tom Telesco emphasized at the NFL scouting combine the importance of retaining Henry, who has developed into a promising replacement for future Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates. Unable to come to terms on a long-term deal, using the tag ensures that Henry will not reach free agency when the new league year starts on Wednesday and that the Chargers can continue to negotiate a long-term deal with him.
What he brings: Despite dealing with a series of injuries, including a knee injury that sidelined him for the entire 2018 season, Henry has proved himself as a valuable playmaker. He is considered a threat as a run-blocker and a pass-catcher. His skill set and ensured future with the Chargers also could help entice a prospective quarterback as the Chargers remain in the hunt for a Philip Rivers replacement. — Lindsey Thiry