Cowboys place 2nd round tender on Aubrey

Would take a 4th all day for this bum lol 10 mil for a kicker my guys got to be on some good ****
 
They are weak and the NFL owners have the best commissioner in sports (for them) who has so much power and influence that he is able to beat them down when they try to actually compete with one another in the marketplace. The collusion is institutional and with their team values going up up up, they have no reason to change anything.
I don't think the NFLPA is weak. I think they just have bigger priorities, which is fine of course, but at the end of the day is their choice.

I am guessing that originally issues like franchise tags were designed to overpay most players to the point it would incentivize teams to keep negotiating a long term contract with them.

In other words, it was simply a delay period for the start of free agency for a player up until July 15th.

The problem is that before, the mega contracts were typically limited to a small number of players who rarely had to go through it because most players wanted long term contracts over "highest paid" titles.

With the salary cap increasing so much every year, players and their agents want them to maximize their guaranteed money while also getting them back to the open market for a new contract as soon as possible.

Because of that, contract offers are increasing considerably for a lot more players these days which means you have situations like the one Pickens is in.

He wants $32 million per year but by franchise tagging him, the Cowboys can actually save $3 to $4 million for 2026 and only have to pay him $28-$29 million.

Several years ago, for most players the per-year rate players wanted was lower than the franchise price so it incentivized the team to negotiate a long deal as soon as possible if they wanted to keep the player.

Now with the franchise tag, teams can actually save money, benefit from less risk with a one-year deal and then do the exact same thing next year.

The one big deterrent from NFL teams doing that in the past was the single season salary cap hit, but the annual salary cap increases make that much less of an issue now.

For example, the 2026 salary cap increased around $22 million and the franchise tag for Pickens is $28 million. As such, it's easy for them to view it as a $6 million contract for a player wanting a 4 to 5 year $32 million/year contract.
 
I really doubt any team is likely to give up a second
 
I don't think the NFLPA is weak. I think they just have bigger priorities, which is fine of course, but at the end of the day is their choice.

I am guessing that originally issues like franchise tags were designed to overpay most players to the point it would incentivize teams to keep negotiating a long term contract with them.

In other words, it was simply a delay period for the start of free agency for a player up until July 15th.

The problem is that before, the mega contracts were typically limited to a small number of players who rarely had to go through it because most players wanted long term contracts over "highest paid" titles.

With the salary cap increasing so much every year, players and their agents want them to maximize their guaranteed money while also getting them back to the open market for a new contract as soon as possible.

Because of that, contract offers are increasing considerably for a lot more players these days which means you have situations like the one Pickens is in.

He wants $32 million per year but by franchise tagging him, the Cowboys can actually save $3 to $4 million for 2026 and only have to pay him $28-$29 million.

Several years ago, for most players the per-year rate players wanted was lower than the franchise price so it incentivized the team to negotiate a long deal as soon as possible if they wanted to keep the player.

Now with the franchise tag, teams can actually save money, benefit from less risk with a one-year deal and then do the exact same thing next year.

The one big deterrent from NFL teams doing that in the past was the single season salary cap hit, but the annual salary cap increases make that much less of an issue now.

For example, the 2026 salary cap increased around $22 million and the franchise tag for Pickens is $28 million. As such, it's easy for them to view it as a $6 million contract for a player wanting a 4 to 5 year $32 million/year contract.
Great post
 
That’s not what our draft history says. Our draft history says we’re drafting Gavin Escobar, or Luke Schoonmaker, or Randy Gregory.

You really think Rodriguez will be around in the second, after he posted a great combine and had a fantastic LB season?
I think if he isn't they can still get a solid linebacker or defensive back in the 2nd round or a solid running back or receiver. I think the 2nd round is strong.
 
The number of players who change teams due to a RFA tender is typically zero and the last time a franchise tagged player changed teams for the two firsts was 25 years ago (cowboys)
I agree with your overall point but non-exclusive tagged players are still traded but it’s usually through a tag and trade vs an offer sheet process. I think Burns, Sneed, and Davante are the most recent examples.

In some cases I think it’s part of a strategy to get something for the player. I think Burns got a 2nd and 5th and Sneed a 3rd and something. Adams got a 1 and 2 and became the highest paid WR.
 
I agree with your overall point but non-exclusive tagged players are still traded but it’s usually through a tag and trade vs an offer sheet process. I think Burns, Sneed, and Davante are the most recent examples.
Agreed.

But what that almaotnalrazy means is the trade return is less, sometimes significantly so, than the tag or tender picks.

People say “Hell yeah! Give me two firsts!” Or “a second for a kicker? Sign me up”

But you never actually get that and what you typically end up with is a bitter, resentful player and a team desperate to get “something” as opposed to “nothing”.
 
But what that almaotnalrazy means is the trade return is less, sometimes significantly so, than the tag or tender picks.

People say “Hell yeah! Give me two firsts!” Or “a second for a kicker? Sign me up”

But you never actually get that and what you typically end up with is a bitter, resentful player and a team desperate to get “something” as opposed to “nothing”.
I agree…I’m not defending the process, just pointing out that these things usually don’t get to the offer sheet stage, so 2 firsts rarely happen.

The other reason the returns can be lower is because the player can still control the destination if they didn’t sign the tag. But that might also increase the odds they will have to play out the tag.

To me, an offer sheet is a last resort but the cost is so high that most teams just move on if a deal can’t be negotiated.
 
Then we will be spending 1 million on a kicker instead of 6 to 8 million and will be able to add a 2nd round player to the team and spend about 6 million more on another player in free agency.
Or we keep him and the salary and retain a dang good kicker. The possibilities are endless.
 
Then we will be spending 1 million on a kicker instead of 6 to 8 million and will be able to add a 2nd round player to the team and spend about 6 million more on another player in free agency.
and maybe have a kicker that misses two or three game winning kicks
But you are happy with the two jags we get with the money
The Jones boys love you
 
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