Franchise Tag Tracker
The deadline for teams to use their franchise tag ended at 4:00 pm on Monday. The Franchise tag is a term many fans may not understand. Each team is able to designate one player to be tagged. The salaries are than average by the top 10 in each position to determine the players one year salary. Here is the list of players who got hit with the tag.
Tagged:
Justin Houston – OLB (Kansas City Chiefs)
The NFL sack leader will be returning to Kansas City. Houston will be paid $13.195 million for 2015. Just 26, Houston has made the pro bowl three straight seasons while recording 22 sacks just a year ago.
Dez Bryant – WR (Dallas Cowboys)
Dallas had absolutely no choice but to tag Dez. With Dallas’ awful cap situation, the details of signing a long term deal will take some time. The move all but ends the return of Demarco Murray. Dez will earn $12.823 million baring the occurrence of a long term deal.
Demaryius Thomas – WR (Denver Broncos)
Keeping Demaryius in Denver was the teams number one goal. Thomas will also earn 12.823 million because him and Dez play the same position. Julius Thomas is expected to leave for a bigger pay day else where.
Jason Pierre-Paul – DE (New York Giants)
Tagging JPP will cost the Giants $14.813 million dollars. The team has to try to work out a new long term deal because that number is way to high for a player that hasn’t performed up to standards. This is just a case where Pierre-Paul is more valuable to the Giants than he is to other teams.
Stephen Gostkowski – K (New England Patriots)
The Patriots opted to use the tag on a kicker rather than pro bowl safety Devin McCourty. Gostkowski will earn $4.56 million for 2015. The move becomes alittle shocking because they need to scrounge up every penny for Darrelle Revis.
Charles Clay – TE (Miami Dolphins)
Clay received the rarely used transition tag. This means Clay can sign an offer sheet with whatever team he chooses but, the Dolphins are given the opportunity to match any offer. If a team does not offer Clay a deal he will earn $7.071 million.
