This time of year can be a vexing exercise for NFL owners, general managers, and even coaches but a jolly old good time for players as it is franchise tag time. Below is a look at all 32 NFL teams and who they should franchise tag this coming week.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: CALAIS CAMPBELL, Defensive Lineman
Why: He is the only free agent the Cardinals have who should be franchise tagged. He has led the Cardinals in sacks for the last four years (21 total) and he is by far their best pass rusher on their defensive line. In the future the Cards need to obtain a true 3-4 pass rushing defensive end opposite Campbell.
ATLANTA FALCONS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: JOHN ABRAHAM, Defensive Line
Why: Yeah, this guy is expensive (without signing bonuses he has made an average of $5.5 million a year since 2007) but he’s the best pass rusher the Falcons have had on their D-Line for the past five years. Fellow defensive ends KROY BIERMANN and RAY EDWARDS are talented pass rushers and very athletic, but the Falcons will need more than them at this position to make up for Abraham’s loss if he does leave in free agency and/or sidesteps the franchise tag.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: The Ravens already franchise tagged running back RAY RICE.
BUFFALO BILLS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: No one
Why: None of their free agents warrant the franchise tag.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: DAN CONNOR, Linebacker
Why: To some he may seem an injury risk (missed 22 games since his rookie year of 2002), but to this writer Connor is a heck of a player and competitor when healthy or on. He made just over $750K in 2011 which is about right for the type of player and where his development is at right now. If he can stay healthy Connor could be an asset to the Panthers defense for years to come.
CHICAGO BEARS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: The Bears just used the franchise tag on running back MATT FORTE.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Who They Should Have Franchise Tagged: CEDRIC BENSON, Running Back
Why: The Bengals don’t seem to have the time or want to develop another running back to complement their passing game. As for Benson, he has rushed for 1,000 yards for the last three years. But, he made $5 million in 2011 which is pretty expensive for a guy who wasn’t a week after week big time threat in their running game. But that’s also due to rookies ANDY DALTON and AJ GREEN taking off quicker than expected in the passing game.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: No one
Why: Have you seen their list of free agents? Next.
DALLAS COWBOYS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: ANTHONY SPENCER, Linebacker
Why: One of the Cowboys’ best players and a bookend complement to future Hall of Famer and fellow outside linebacker DEMARCUS WARE. His pass rushing skills and ability to defend the run is what their defense needs in the future. Their defense hasn’t been anything special in recent memory but it wouldn’t solve any problems to let Spencer go in free agency or at least franchise tag him.
DENVER BRONCOS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: No one
Why: None of their free agents warrants a franchise tag.
DETROIT LIONS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: CLIFF AVRIL, Defensive Lineman
Why: This guy and NDAMUKONG SUH have been the Lions’ pass rush for the last two seasons. With KYLE VANDEN BOSCH nearing the twilight of his career and the Lions other defensive ends not yet ready to make a major impact, signing Avril to a contract of his desire or franchise tagging him would be in their best interest.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: No one
Why: Their unrestricted free agents don’t warrant a franchise tag.
HOUSTON TEXANS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: They just franchised tagged running back ARIAN FOSTER.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: ROBERT MATHIS, Defensive Line
Why: It’s not good to break up a great pass rushing duo (along with DWIGHT FREENEY) in the NFL because there are just too many great passing games in this league. The Colts are in the AFC South and so they have to put up with quarterbacks MATT SCHAUB (Houston), and eventually talented young passers in JAKE LOCKER (Tennessee) and BLAINE GABBERT (Jacksonville).
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: None
Why: Refer to the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, and Green Bay Packers.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: DWAYNE BOWE, Wide Receiver
Why: One of the top young receivers in the game. Bowe is only the fourth player to compile two straight 1,000 yards receiving (2010 and 2011) in Chiefs history and that’s saying something, because the Chiefs have had some great and good receivers play for them over the last 52 years they have been in existence. He makes their offense go and they need him more than he needs them.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: No one
Why: None of their free agents warrants a franchise tag.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: E.J. HENDERSON, Linebacker
Why: He is not really an elite inside linebacker but he is an effective blue-collar linebacker who the Vikings count on help them defend the run.The Vikings only allowed three running backs rush for over 100 yards in 2011 and their defense was 11th against the run in the entire league. Henderson is expensive (he made just south of $7 million in 2011) and he may have to take a pay cut but I doubt he will.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: WES WELKER, Wide Receiver
Why: Next question
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: DREW BREES, Quarterback:
Why: Next question
NEW YORK GIANTS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: No one
Why: None of their free agents have been dominant enough to warrant a franchise tag.
NEW YORK JETS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: No one
Why: Neither one of their unrestricted free agents warrants a franchise tag.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: Already used this tag on strong safety TYVON BRANCH
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Who They Should Franchise Tag: Already used this tag on wide receiver DESEAN JACKSON
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: MIKE WALLACE, Wide Receiver
Why: The Steelers have already tendered Wallace, but if they could free up the cap space, they’d be wise to franchise him. Wallace is one of the most exciting players to ever play for the Steelers in their 79-year history. He and ANTONIO BROWN make a heck of a duo and they need to stay together because as of now those two and you know who are all the Steelers have on offense that can really scare defenses in the passing game. Two straight 1,000 yard seasons, his speed, his ability to turn a short pass into a big gain or score, and his experience makes it all the more crucial to franchise tag or resign him to a deal that he and the Steelers can agree on.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: VINCENT JACKSON, Wide Receiver
Why: For the last couple of years he and the Chargers decision makers (owner, general managers, etc.) have worked the last nerves of each other as far as contract talks. The two sides need to stop buggin’ and get a deal done even if takes a while. The Chargers need Jackson more than he needs them and besides, for the last decade or so the Chargers have not done a very good job of drafting receivers and then having them pan out.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: They just franchise tagged free safety DASHON GOLDSON.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: MARSHAWN LYNCH, Running Back
Why: The Seahawks ranked 21st in rushing yards last season and this was partly due to their emphasis on passing the ball and the fact that their offensive line wasn’t all that good in run blocking. Their offensive line has talent (RUSSELL OKUNG and ROBERT GALLERY are their best offensive linemen by far) but maybe not enough of it to make Lynch look really good every week. But, their running game needs Lynch because none of their other backs have his combination of durability, speed, size, and ability to take a full load of carries during a game or season. If the Seahawks don’t keep him then there goes their running game.
ST. LOUIS RAMS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: No one
Why: None of their free agents warrants a franchise tag.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: No one
Why: None of their free agents warrants a franchise tag.
TENNESSEE TITANS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: CORTLAND FINNEGAN, Defensive Back
Why: There is a chance he may leave in free agency and there’s the small fact that the Titans may feel they have gotten all they needed out of him in six years of service. Despite all that, the Titans know that they need him because it will only help cornerback JASON MCCOURTY’s development to have an All-Pro cornerback helping him out (mentally and physically) on the other side. The only cornerback on their roster who could possibly fill in and start opposite McCourty if Finnegan leaves in free agency (not replace I might add), is ALTERRAUN VERNER.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Who They Should Franchise Tag: They already franchise tagged tight end FRED DAVIS.
