Making the Call on Top Remaining Franchise Tag Question Marks

The deadline for NFL teams to apply the franchise tag is Tuesday, March 1. 

While a number of notable players are expected to receive the tag, a handful of question marks remain surrounding a few of the biggest free agents. 

In the following slides, we will make the call on whether or not teams will apply the tag to various players by using price, situation and comments from coaches and general managers as motivating factors.

The Obvious Tags

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WR Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the Bears will use the franchise tag on Jeffery, the top free-agent receiver. Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune later reported that Chicago will continue trying to get a long-term deal done before using the tag as a last resort on Tuesday. 

LB Von Miller, Denver Broncos

The optimism of getting a multiyear deal done without the tag has faded. According to Adam Schefter, Miller and the Broncos are not expected to have an agreement in place before Tuesday's deadline, leaving Denver to apply the franchise tag to the Super Bowl MVP.  

CB Josh Norman, Carolina Panthers

Per Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports, the Panthers and Norman have "not [made] much progress" on a new deal. The franchise tag will be used if the two sides can't find common ground before Tuesday. 

QB Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins

Per Schefter, Washington will use the tag on Cousins, although the specific type of tag—franchise or transition—has yet to be determined. The Redskins can't afford to risk their 27-year-old quarterback reaching the open market.

DL Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets

According to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, Wilkerson is "all but guaranteed" to receive the franchise tag. Mehta believes the Jets could shop Wilkerson as a trade option once tagged. 

LT Cordy Glenn, Buffalo Bills 

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Bills are expected to use the franchise tag on Glenn. Buffalo won't let the ascending left tackle hit the open market.  

CB Trumaine Johnson, Los Angeles Rams

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The Rams cleared millions in cap space in February when the team released defensive end Chris Long, linebacker James Laurinaitis and tight end Jared Cook. The freed-up money can now be spent on Johnson and Janoris Jenkins, the club's two free-agent cornerbacks. 

At the NFL combine, Rams general manager Les Snead called re-signing the pair "priority A" for the team's offseason, per Dani Klupenger of Fox Sports Midwest. However, keeping both might first require one to receive the tag, an option Los Angeles has to consider before Tuesday's deadline. 

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Rams are "leaning toward" franchise-tagging Johnson over Jenkins. While Jenkins was the higher draft pick back in 2012, it was Johnson who produced seven interceptions and 17 passes defended during a breakout 2015 season. 

The Rams want to keep a young, emerging secondary intact for their move west. Re-signing both Jenkins and Johnson before the March 1 deadline is probably unreasonable, making it very possible Snead uses the tag—with Johnson the more likely recipient of the two. 

Prediction: Tag

RB Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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General manager Jason Licht and the Buccaneers remain confident about their chances of re-signing Martin, who finished second in the NFL in rushing last season. 

"I know he wants to be a Buc, and we want him to be a Buc," Licht said at the NFL combine, per Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "I'm sure there will be some obstacles, there always are in negotiations, but we'll prepare for either way. I'm optimistic, and we'll continue talking with him."

Optimism could wane by Tuesday's deadline. But would the Bucs really use the tag on a running back? It seems unlikely. 

According to ESPN, the franchise tag for a running back will cost $11.8 million for 2016. While giving Martin the tag would keep him off the market, it would also hand him more leverage in negotiating a deal that is already expected to cost as much as $8 million per season. 

The Bucs are better off rolling the dice and continuing to work on a multiyear deal, even if that means Martin reaches the open market. 

Prediction: No tag

QB Sam Bradford, Philadelphia Eagles

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The Eagles are getting more aggressive in their efforts to bring back quarterback Sam Bradford.

According to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports, Philadelphia made a "strong push" for Bradford at the NFL Scouting Combine, which included an "upped" contract offer. The Eagles are making it more and more clear about their desire for Bradford to be back in Philadelphia. 

The team could still opt for the franchise tag by Tuesday, especially if Bradford balks at the increased offer. And if the Eagles truly covet him, the tag would be an attractive option for keeping the former No. 1 pick out of free agency.

However, the tag for quarterbacks costs almost $20 million. If no deal is struck before Tuesday, the Eagles might be better off continuing to negotiate a new deal while risking him to the market—where his true value could gain some much-needed clarity. 

Prediction: No tag

DE Olivier Vernon, Miami Dolphins

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Vernon is a rare soon-to-be free agent. A 25-year-old pass-rusher with 25.5 sacks over his last three seasons, he is young, productive and ascending—and he would cash in with a huge deal if he reaches the open market. 

The Dolphins can't let a player like Vernon get away. However, Miami already has millions invested along the defensive line, with both Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake possessing monster contracts. Using the franchise tag—which costs $15.7 million for defensive ends in 2016—could handcuff the team in free agency. 

One potential option: Using the tag and then trading him. 

According to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com, the Dolphins are considering just that. It would be a bold move, but it would also ensure Miami received something in return. 

In the end, the Dolphins need Vernon too much. They can move some money around to make it work, but keeping him off the market will almost certainly require the tag.

Prediction: Tag

S Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs

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The Chiefs have been working on a new deal for safety Eric Berry for the better part of a month, but according to Rand Getlin of NFL Network, "no significant progress" has been made on the extension. 

That reality leaves the potential for the Chiefs to give Berry the tag.

An elite safety who made the Pro Bowl during the same year he beat cancer, Berry would be valuable on the open market. But his impact in Kansas City can't be measured. 

“Certainly, Eric is somebody that’s very important to the franchise,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said, per Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. “Coach (Andy) Reid and his staff think highly of him. They appreciate the leader that he’s become, and obviously personally, he had the amazing year overcoming cancer. We’ll do everything we can to try to bring him back.”

The tag would cost the Chiefs almost $11 million, which would limit Kansas City's ability to re-sign other free agents such as Sean Smith and Jaye Howard. But unless the two sides hammer out a new deal before Tuesday, the Chiefs have precious few other options. 

Prediction: Tag