Patriots’ history with the franchise tag under Bill Belichick
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick rarely leans on the franchise tag in present-day negotiations with pending free agents. There was a time when he used it frequently as a negotiating tactic, but in the last eight years, only one player has been franchise tagged by the Patriots.
That run of not tagging players will likely continue in 2023 with wide receiver Jakobi Meyers and cornerback Jonathan Jones being the only legitimate tag candidates on the roster.
That isn’t to suggest both players don’t deserve pay raises. But it’s hard envisioning Belichick and the Patriots footing the bill for a rising price tag at positions they can address through free agency and the draft.
Still, for fun, let’s take a look at all of the Patriots players that have been franchise tagged over the years by Belichick.
2020 - G Joe Thuney - $14.78 million
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2015 - K Stephen Gostkowski - $4.1 million
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2012 - WR Wes Welker - $9.5 million
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2011 - G Logan Mankins - $10.1 million
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2010 - DT Vince Wilfork - $7 million
Al Bello/Getty Images)
2009 - QB Matt Cassel - $14.6 million
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2007 - CB Asante Samuel - $7.7 million
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2005 - K Adam Vinatieri - $2.5 million
DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images)
2003 - S Tebucky Jones - $3 million
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2002 - K Adam Vinatieri - $1.2 million
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