NFL teams use the franchise tag for one main reason.
They want to extend the contract talks with a valuable player on an expiring deal.
It’s a one-year, fully guaranteed mechanism that is based on the average of the top five salaries at the position.
For 2022, the franchise tag for a quarterback is $29.7 million while tight ends are at $10.9 million.
The value increases if a player is tagged for a second or third year.
That’s why teams and those who were tagged would like to finalize a long-term contract extension before the season starts.
However, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler shared four players that might not get extensions by Friday.
There's a chance all four franchise tagged players don't get deals by Friday deadline:
*Dalton Schultz, Mike Gesicki deals unlikely, per @AdamSchefter
*Sources haven't been optimistic on Jessie Bates/Cincy
*Orlando Brown/Chiefs: It's not looking good but sides talking.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 14, 2022
Adam Schefter reports that tight ends Mike Gesicki and Dalton Schultz won’t likely sign their next contracts with the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys, respectively.
Likewise, the Cincinnati Bengals might not have enough time to structure a long-term contract for safety Jessie Bates.
Therefore, he will likely get a $12.9 million salary in 2022 per the tag value for safeties.
Finally, the Kansas City Chiefs and Orlando Brown Jr. have not agreed to terms, which could possibly earn him $16.6 million in the upcoming season.
These Players Should Get Their Next Contracts Soon
While there will be a delay in their signing, they all deserve to stay with their respective teams because they have been valuable contributors.
Gesicki and Schultz are like additional receivers for their squads while Bates was instrumental in the Bengals’ Super Bowl run.
Brown is also a force on the offensive line that helps protect Patrick Mahomes.
If they don’t get signed, they can walk away as free agents unless they are tagged again.
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