For information a franchise tag is a one year forced contract by a team that will pay you the average annual salary of the five highest paid players at the position and increases in value if the tag is used again, and the team has until July 15th to work out a long term deal. Whether they were tagged because the two parties value themselves differently or because the team doesn't want to be locked in for long term determines if the team will use the tag or not, so today lets go over the nine players that were tagged this offseason.
Justin Simmons, Marcus Maye, and Marcus Williams: These three players all play safety, one of the hardest positions to value in the sport. All three are Pro Bowl caliber players but the market has not yet been set which provoked a waiting game because when the first of the three sign the other two will most likely be paid more. Maye and Williams will make 10.5 million dollars this season under the tag and Simmons will make 13.7 million because he was tagged last season. No brainer deals on the teams side but for the players, they want to get paid the big bucks.
Taylor Moton, Cam Robinson, and Brandon Scherff: Moton and Robinson are offensive tackles and Scherff is a guard but i group them together under Offensive line. Moton was fantastic and one of the only bright spots for the Panthers last season and has proven his worth and should be paid before the July 15th deadline. Robinson, like Moton, was the rare bright spot for Jacksonville last year. Although he should be paid like one of the best i don't expect a deal to get done. Both Tackles would make 13.6 million under the tag next season. As for Scherff, he helped his team make the playoffs last season playing guard which pushes his value through the roof. Under the tag he'll be set to make 18 million but I expect this year or next he'll sign a 20+ million contract per annual value.
Chris Godwin and Allen Robinson: These two players are some of the best at the position and should be paid like one. Robinson has spent the last few years on the Bears overachieving every season he's been there. Expect him to play out the season under the tag and if things don't bode well for Chicago this year he could be on the trade market. Godwin on the other hand has been the best number two guy in the league and the team loves him, expect the Bucs to not mess this one up and get a deal done before the July deadline
Leonard Williams: If someone would have told me last season he would be tagged I would have laughed, but this past season was Leonard's best season as a pro. Playing interior defensive lineman is no laughing matter and having one of the best PFF grades at the position is outstanding. Though the Giants are weary to sign him long term because they don't know if he can maintain the same level play. This year he'll play under the tag as sort of a prove it deal and the team will re-address it next offseason.
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