NFL free agency begins next week, and many players were essentially taken off the market on Tuesday when they were given the franchise tag.
Players who got the non-exclusive franchise tag can still negotiate with other teams, but the compensation for signing a franchise-tagged player is heavy. If the original team doesn't match an offer sheet to a tagged player, the player's new team must give up two first-round picks. Players who get the exclusive franchise tag aren't allowed to even negotiate with other teams.
So most likely, these players who got the franchise tag aren't going anywhere in 2016. Here's the list of players who got the franchise or transition tag on Tuesday:
Denver Broncos give OLB Von Miller the exclusive franchise tag
No need for the Broncos to mess around. If they gave Miller the non-exclusive tag, what's keeping a team from deciding that, yes, giving up two-first round picks is a fine price for one of the best pass rushers the NFL has seen in many years? With the exclusive tag, no other team can even negotiate with Miller. It's hard to imagine Denver and Miller don't come to a long-term agreement this offseason.
As it turns out, the chatter about the transition tag was empty. The Redskins weren't going to open themselves up to losing their quarterback with no compensation in return. it seems unlikely a team would give up a pair of firsts for Cousins, but strange things happen sometimes in the NFL. As it stands, Cousins' $19.953 million salary under the franchise tag would be the highest base salary for any NFL quarterback in 2016.
Norman and the Panthers couldn't come to an agreement before the deadline, so he got the tag. There's no real reason to believe any team will give Norman an offer sheet this offseason. One of the best cornerbacks in the NFL is very likely to be in Carolina for a long time.
With Jeffery basically off the market, the class of receivers available in free agency is pretty weak. The Bears couldn't afford to lose an explosive receiver like Jeffery while he's still peaking.
There was never much question that the Jets would use the franchise tag on Wilkerson. He's one of the best 3-4 defensive ends in the game, coming off a 12-sack season and he seems to be improving every year.
Teams use franchise tags on kickers and punters because it's just $4.57 million. For a kicker like Tucker, who is one of the best in the NFL, that's a fine investment.
The Bills cleared some cap room by cutting defensive end Mario Williams, then re-invested that money right back into their young left tackle. Glenn would have been one of the top free agents on the market, so locking him up was smart by the Bills.
Kansas City Chiefs give S Eric Berry the non-exclusive franchise tag
Berry wasn't going to hit the open market after turning in a Pro Bowl season. Berry beat cancer to come back stronger than ever in 2015. He's one of the best strong safeties in the NFL.
St. Louis Rams give CB Trumaine Johnson the non-exclusive franchise tag
Interesting move by the Rams. They had both starting corners, Johnson and Janoris Jenkins, set to be free agents. Paying $13.95 million for Johnson is steep, but at least they won't be losing both cornerbacks in free agency.
This allows the Dolphins to see what offer Vernon gets on the open market and then they can decide if it's out of their price range. The transition tag gives teams a right of first refusal but no compensation in return if they don't match. Vernon will get a very nice offer on the open market, as one of the top pass rushers available.
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