The period for a team to use their franchise tag on any player of their choice has ended. The tag deadline was on Tuesday. Now we know which players were tagged by their respective teams. Let’s take a look.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have used their franchise tag on wide receiver Chris Godwin. Godwin has been instrumental to Tampa’s offense and has been well-liked by quarterback Tom Brady. Godwin led all Bucs receivers in 2020 with 16 catches in the postseason. In the regular season, the wide receiver only played in 12 games due to injury but was able to record 840 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Both sides are looking to agree on a long-term deal, so the franchise tag was a temporary solution to retain the player before discussing a long-term deal. The receiver will receive $16.5 million from the tag if a long-term deal is not reached.
The New York Jets tagged safety Marcus Maye. Maye had his big break last season after becoming a leader on defense. Maye recorded two sacks and two forced fumbles. In addition, he was credited with 11 passes defended, which tied for third among safeties in the NFL.
Carolina Panthers right tackle Taylor Moton has received the team’s franchise tag. The tag has ensured that he will receive $13.6 million next season.
Wide receiver Allen Robinson has been tagged by the Chicago Bears for $18 million. The 27-year-old receiver had a career-high 102 passes caught and 1,250 yards. In 2019, he led Chicago with 98 receptions for 1,417 yards and seven touchdowns. Robinson is without a doubt an important offensive piece for Chicago. The Bears will be looking to negotiate a long-term deal with the receiver before the summer deadline. Regardless, it is hard to imagine the Bears being a solid offense without the services of Robinson.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have placed the franchise tag on right tackle Cam Robinson for $14.57 million. Robinson has had his struggles in the NFL, but he has still been a dependable pass blocker for the Jags. Although he might have not blossomed into something greater, he is still a good choice since the team plans to draft QB Trevor Lawrence. Robinson is the only experienced tackle on the team for now. Tagging Robinson is a good investment for Jacksonville since they likely won’t spend to get another veteran blocker on the market.
Brandon Scherff has been tagged by the Washington Football Team. Scherff has become an elite guard for the team. Retaining him was a huge priority for Washington. Scherff is a four-time Pro Bowler and a first-time All-Pro. He has become the team’s first All-Pro player since 1996. Currently, there are hopes for a long-term contract to be reached by both sides. In the meantime, Scherff will earn $18 million from the franchise tag.
TheDenver Broncos have tagged safety Justin Simmons for a second consecutive season. Simmons was tagged last season and gave it all on the field to prove himself worthy of a hefty and lengthy contract, yet the team did not come to terms with the safety. Simmons has already expressed opposition towards being tagged again. Nevertheless, Simmons has the athleticism, anticipation, and awareness to play deep safety. Simmons was selected to the second All-Pro team twice and elected to the Pro Bowl for the first time. He and his agent are trying to get a long-term deal done to stay in Denver.
Defensive lineman Leonard Williams was given the franchise tag by the New York Giants. Williams is expected to receive $19.3 million from the tag. Williams became a Pro Bowler in his second season with the Jets before plateauing. The defensive lineman’s production stagnated as it seemed that he did not live up to the lofty expectations before being traded to the Giants. Last season, Williams emerged with a career-best 11.5 sacks and 30 quarterback hits, good for third in the NFL. Additionally, he had 41 quarterback pressures, which ranked seventh among interior defensive lineman.
Lastly, the New Orleans Saints used their franchise tag on safety Marcus Williams. Williams will earn $10.5 million by being tagged. The Saints decided keeping the safety was a top priority because of their limited cap space. Luckily, Williams’ franchise tag was not very expensive comparatively. Williams has recorded 14 interceptions over the past four years, which is good for the eighth-most among all active players in the league.
