Here's where we stand on the franchise-tagged players
There aren’t many games throughout the sporting world this week, but it’s an important week for many NFL teams.
Friday is the deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign a long-term deal. If there’s no deal by the deadline, tagged players have to play on the one-year franchise contract or sit out. So there’s some urgency from all sides.
With a few days left for posturing and negotiating, here’s where we stand on each of them (the Buffalo Bills and tagged offensive tackle Cordy Glenn reached a long-term deal in May, and the Carolina Panthers removed the franchise tag from cornerback Josh Norman in April):
Denver Broncos OLB Von Miller: This has been the most acrimonious negotiation of the bunch. But the sides finally got down to business in the past week or so, and are exchanging proposals. Miller wants more guaranteed money, and the Broncos have reportedly offered to guarantee the third year of the deal. The third year would become guaranteed in March of 2017, according to the Denver Post. Yahoo’s Charles Robinson reported weeks ago that Miller was agreeable to the basic terms: six years and $114.5 million. It seems like the two sides can come to common ground on guarantees before Friday’s deadline.
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New York Jets DE Muhammad Wilkerson: Wilkerson’s issues with the Jets haven’t gotten headlines like Miller’s negotiations, but they haven’t been too friendly. NJ.com reported late last week that the two sides weren’t even talking. It has been said over the past couple months that they aren’t close to a long-term deal. Wilkerson is a fine player, and presumably wants a contract in line with the massive deal Fletcher Cox got from the Philadelphia Eagles. If the Jets don’t give him a huge long-term deal and the deadline passes, then the next question will be if Wilkerson will refuse to report to training camp.
Chicago Bears WR Alshon Jeffery: It seems like there will be no long-term deal before the deadline. The Chicago Tribune said Monday it would take a “dramatic twist” for a long-term deal to be signed, and it’s most likely that Jeffery plays this year under the franchise tag. Then the two sides can revisit a long-term deal after the season.
Washington Redskins QB Kirk Cousins: Both sides seem fine with Cousins playing the season under the franchise tag. Pro Football Talk said there’s no chance at a long-term deal this week, which is no surprise. Cousins can make about $20 million this season, and Washington can figure out if Cousins’ second-half surge last year was real. If Cousins plays at a high level through this year, the Redskins can invest in him next offseason. It’s a rare case in which the franchise tag seems like a good solution for everyone.
Baltimore Ravens K Justin Tucker: An agreement seems inevitable, though it hasn’t been finished yet. Tucker is a fantastic kicker, the Ravens want him around for the long haul, and it shouldn’t be too complicated to get a deal done.
Kansas City Chiefs S Eric Berry: Last week Berry expressed frustration with negotiations, telling the Kansas City Star, “I thought it would progress a little bit more.” Berry also acknowledged that a lot can happen before the deadline, which is the case with many of these deals. Both sides want Berry to be a Chief for a long time, so it would be a surprise if no deal is reached this week.
Los Angeles Rams CB Trumaine Johnson: There hasn’t been much news about Johnson signing a long-term deal, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter previously said it’s a long shot that a deal is completed. Everything points to Johnson playing on the franchise tag this season.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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