Day of the Tag, what will we do?

[Coogiguy03]

I'd probably give the tag to either Wilson or Schultz and take Bijan Robinson in round 1. I think Robinson can do what both Zeke and Pollard do as strengths, so he's more efficient and cost effective. Meanwhile, Wilson has become a very good safety, and it'd be nice to keep Schultz if we can.

I think if they tag Shultz again something happens or it costs more

 

[Coogiguy03]

Tag Pollard and work out a new deal.

Don't overthink it.

He will be healthy way before training camp.

You don't know that our luck isn't too good with injured players

 

[thunderpimp91]

I think if they tag Shultz again something happens or it costs more

To tag a player twice you'll have to pay them either the new tag price or 20% more, whichever is greater....I'm about 80% sure that's the rule.

 

[Jarntt]

Definitely need to tag Pollard. No way on Wilson. Love him and he is a big part of our defense but we have two other starters and possibly some young guys who could use some more snaps. I do try to re-sign him to a LTC but I don't even consider tagging him. If he thinks he is a $12-14M player he can look for that elsewhere.

 

[Jarntt]

Perhaps this helps with the discussion:​

2023 Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag & Transition Tag Figures​

POSITION	FRANCHISE TAG	TRANSITION TAG
Quarterback	$32,416,000	$29,504,000
Running Back	$10,091,000	$8,429,000
Wide Receiver	$19,743,000	$17,991,000
Tight End	$11,345,000	$9,716,000
Offensive Lineman	$18,244,000	$16,660,000
Defensive Tackle	$18,937,000	$16,068,000
Defensive End	$19,727,000	$17,452,000
Linebacker	$20,926,000	$17,478,000
Cornerback	$18,140,000	$15,791,000
Safety	$14,460,000	$11,867,000
Kicker/Punter	$5,393,000	$4,869,000

The Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag
When a player is offered a non-exclusive tag, he is still able to negotiate with other organizations. If an offer sheet is submitted and signed by the tagged play, the previous team must match the offer to keep the player. Otherwise, the player will officially sign with the new team, who will send two first round picks to the losing team in order to complete the transaction.

The Exclusive Franchise Tag
The exclusive tag is calculated much differently than the non-exclusive figure, in that it is represented by the Top 5 salaries at the respective position once the restricted free agency period ends (April). Additionally, the player is not allowed to negotiate with other teams at any point under the exclusive tag. If the player is traded after signing the exclusive tag, there is no required trade compensation. The losing team can acquire whatever package of players and/or draft picks they wish to process the transaction.

The Transition Tag
This offering has become less frequent in past offseasons, and is calculated based on the Top 10 salaries for a respective position, making them slightly lower than their corresponding franchise tender. Players are free to negotiate with other teams on a transition tag, and the previous team has the right to match an offer sheet that is signed. However, no draft pick compensation will be transerred should the losing team decline to match the offer sheet.

The Second Tag Scenario
If a player was tagged in the previous season and are offered another tag this offseason, the value of that tag will either be 120% of last year's tag, or the new figure for their respective position - whichever is greater. If a player is tagged a third straight offseason, their new tag value will represent 140% of the previous year's figure

https://www.spotrac.com/news/2023-tag-values-candidates-1768/

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Actually, having now read the parameters of the “transition” tag, it may be strategic to use that tag on Pollard given the fact he’s coming off an injury.

 

[Jarntt]

To tag a player twice you'll have to pay them either the new tag price or 20% more, whichever is greater....I'm about 80% sure that's the rule.

Yup. Schultz would cost us like $13M if tagged again. No thanks

 

[thunderpimp91]

Definitely need to tag Pollard. No way on Wilson. Love him and he is a big part of our defense but we have two other starters and possibly some young guys who could use some more snaps. I do try to re-sign him to a LTC but I don't even consider tagging him. If he thinks he is a $12M player he can look for that elsewhere.

You're spot on with Wilson. Most projections I'm seeing have him around $6-7MM per year. If he thinks he can get even transition tag money of 12MM, let him explore the market, and if he finds someone that'll give it to him then good for him. I know these projection sites are not always accurate, but it's pretty rare they are off by that much of a gap. I'd love to sign him for 3years/$20MM instead of a 1 year $12-14MM tag.

 

[Jarntt]

You're spot on with Wilson. Most projections I'm seeing have him around $6-7MM per year. If he thinks he can get even transition tag money of 12MM, let him explore the market, and if he finds someone that'll give it to him then good for him. I know these projection sites are not always accurate, but it's pretty rare they are off by that much of a gap. I'd love to sign him for 3years/$20MM instead of a 1 year $12-14MM tag.

Plus we just gave Kearse a 2 year $10M deal. He likely gets somewhere in that ballpark that plus a year's inflation. Maybe a little more and longer because he is younger. I'd say $6M per for 4 years sounds about right.

 

[Chuck 54]

No way should Dallas pay Pollard 10 million on the tag. That would be a 1 year desperation move. It’s really hard to work out a deal that pays less per year after giving the tag guaranteed money. Offer Pollard a 3-Year deal at around 7 million per year with a nice signing bonus. If that doesn’t get it done, let him test the market. Most RBs fall off the cliff quickly. Draft RBs every other year and keep the supply line and depth fresh. Never sign a RB to a 2nd contract unless you have a generational talent.

 

[DanTanna]

No way should Dallas pay Pollard 10 million on the tag. That would be a 1 year desperation move. It’s really hard to work out a deal that pays less per year after giving the tag guaranteed money. Offer Pollard a 3-Year deal at around 7 million per year with a nice signing bonus. If that doesn’t get it done, let him test the market. Most RBs fall off the cliff quickly. Draft RBs every other year and keep the supply line and depth fresh. Never sign a RB to a 2nd contract unless you have a generational talent.

And never draft a RB in the first round - EVER!

 

[thunderpimp91]

No way should Dallas pay Pollard 10 million on the tag. That would be a 1 year desperation move. It’s really hard to work out a deal that pays less per year after giving the tag guaranteed money. Offer Pollard a 3-Year deal at around 7 million per year with a nice signing bonus. If that doesn’t get it done, let him test the market. Most RBs fall off the cliff quickly. Draft RBs every other year and keep the supply line and depth fresh. Never sign a RB to a 2nd contract unless you have a generational talent.

Isn't that the best argument to give Pollard the tag though? Why give him 3 years at 7MM + bonus money and risk him falling off a cliff during that contract when you can simply pay him $3MM more this year and reevaluate at the end of the year.

Ideally you grab someone in the mid-rounds of the draft and if you hit on them you let Pollard walk with no future cap hit, if they bust now you have a tough decision to make.

 

[McKDaddy]

I have my reservations with Pollard after his injury.....feel bad for him, but let them both walk and draft a back or two.

I lean this way as well. Pollard without the injury, I try to keep. Now, it just feels like you could reset the RB position entirely and have way less cap invested.

I do feel bad for the way RB's are treated and hope TP gets paid & has a nice career. Just not sure it should be here.

 

[thunderpimp91]

And never draft a RB in the first round - EVER!

Years past I've been right there with this line of thinking, but I'm starting to change my tune. No one else is grabbing RBs high, which makes me want to start doing it again. If you have a chance to get the best RB in the draft (and this year it's a really good one) and you dont pick until very late in the 1st round I wouldnt be afraid to pull the trigger. I'm likely not doing it for a top 20 pick, however we are picking in a spot where the value starts to be there, plus I don't hate the idea of having a 5th year option on an RB at all.

 

[CowboyoWales]

They will use it on Pollard because if they don't and Pollard signs elsewhere Dallas is left with Zeke....let that sink in.

Plenty of RB's in the draft....if we love Pollard to best way to afford him is to give him a contract that pro-rata's bonus away from 2023.

 

[visionary]

Don’t franchise tag anyone

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

id like to tag wilson, but would also hope we can work out a good deal for him instead and then tag pollard. Although i hope big mike can scheme pollard more in the passing game though, for just a rb i think the tag is too much

That'd be the best case scenario. Still, drafting Robinson would be helpful. If we can't get him, then there is a back from Pittsburgh that we could get in round 5 that is very similar to Pollard.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Robinson is projected to go anywhere from near Top 10 pick to mid-20's pick......and Dallas selects 27th (actually 26th but Miami forfeited its 1st round pick).

Besides, if Dallas tags Pollard that dramatically reduces the chance of them going after Robinson and there are far too many teams ahead of Dallas in the draft that could go after a RB (PHI at 10, TEN at 11, NE at 14, DET at 18, TB at 19, BALT at 23, NYG at 26).

We will see, and that's a good reason to tag Pollard. Imagine if we get Pollard and Robinson. If, however, Robinson goes before our pick, there's a back from Pitt that I like. He's probably a round 4-5 selection, and I think he would fit nicely.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

I like the idea, but no way am I paying Schultz again. We need to move forward with our young guys.

True, and there's a TE from Bama that I like in round 6 that I've been looking at on the draft simulators. He'd be an interesting choice

 

[thunderpimp91]

I lean this way as well. Pollard without the injury, I try to keep. Now, it just feels like you could reset the RB position entirely and have way less cap invested.

I do feel bad for the way RB's are treated and hope TP gets paid & has a nice career. Just not sure it should be here.

I'm always a little hesitant to say this because we only know so much and it could blow up in my face quickly, but Pollard's injury seems to be pretty minor going into the offseason. The surgery he had for the ankle sprain is very common, and the bone fracture seems to be pretty simple break. Both injuries have short recovery times (for an offseason timeline) with low rates of complications. This injury is completely different than say a Michael Gallup from last offseason.