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Don't think this was a repost. Interesting Info about NFL tagging players.
Where to place tags can be tricky business
By Pat Kirwan
NFL.com Senior Analyst
(Feb. 12, 2007) -- Almost every team in the league is facing a situation where it is contemplating using a "tag" to retain a player or two.
The NFL rules state only one player per team can be tagged, and it has to be either the franchise tag (average salary of the top five players at the position) or the transition tag (average of the top 10 at the position). The franchise tag means that a team that might want to sign your player is going to have to compensate you with at least first- and third-round draft picks. For all practical purposes, a franchise tag retains the player. Even though it is a lot of money, players generally hate the franchise tag because it eliminates their ability to test free agency.
This year, NFL teams will average close to $15 million in cap space, and the players believe there is a huge pot of gold waiting for them if they can get free.
Cory Redding likely will be miffed if Detroit chooses to tag him.
A transition tag, although less expensive, can really expose the club if another team wants the player. There is no draft compensation and the original club has the right only to match the offer the competing club submits. After the whole drama that surrounded Seattle's Steve Hutchinson last year when he received a transition tag instead of a franchise tag and the Vikings put a deal together that made it difficult for the Seahawks to match (they eventually lost him), I would be shocked if any team used a transition tag this year.
Another problem facing teams is which "position tag" to use on certain players. Centers, guards and tackles are bundled in a category called offensive linemen. But on the defensive line, the tag structure is broken down into tackles and ends.
The first case where there could be a conflict is Detroit defensive lineman Cory Redding, who has started more games at end than tackle in his career, but in 2006 -- because of injuries to Detroit's defensive line -- he moved inside. The franchise tag price for a defensive tackle is $1,900,000 less than defensive end.
Here are the tag prices (in millions) for each position. Keep in mind a team is going to have the amount of cap space available to put the tag on the player. If it doesn't, it must create the space by renegotiating other player contracts or cut players to open up the space.POSITION FRANCHISE TAG TRANSITION TAG
Tight end $4.37 $3.61
Wide receiver $7.61 $7.04
Offensive line $9.55 $8.26
Quarterback $12.61 $10.18
Running back $6.99 $5.98
Cornerback $7.79 $6.76
Defensive end $8.64 $7.70
Defensive tackle $6.77 $5.54
Linebacker $7.20 $6.48
Safety $4.49 $3.98
Kicker/Punter $2.07 $1.92
Can you see why a fullback would never get tagged? He's grouped in with the top running backs and there's no chance a fullback is getting a $6.99 million tag. Can you see why a real athletic tight end who lines up more like a wide receiver than an in-line blocker might be frustrated with his position status? It doesn't matter if he has caught 100 passes in a season -- the tag system says his value is $3.24 million less.
When it comes to quarterback, you better be really sure the guy can play, because he is going to take up close to 11 percent of the team salary cap. And how about the "hybrid" defensive backs coming into the league who tackle like safeties and cover like corners? There's a $3.3 million difference when it comes time to tag them.
In a few years, Shawne Merriman might be wishing he were playing defensive end.
One very unusual situation exists at linebacker. It would be easy to see why outside linebackers who play in 3-4 would drive the position price -- especially with the sacks they can accumulate -- but when you look at the top 10 highest paid linebackers, it looks like this: Ray Lewis, Zach Thomas, Keith Bulluck, Derrick Brooks, Takeo Spikes, Dan Morgan, Al Wilson, Brian Urlacher, Rosevelt Colvin, Donnie Edwards. No wonder why general managers seem to like the 3-4 defense. Instead of paying defensive ends to rush the passer -- and eventually having to tag them with an $8.64 million number -- they instead rush the passer with an outside linebacker who tags for $1.4 million less.
With only 10 days remaining to declare which players will be tagged, it is wise for teams to make sure they know the market at the position. A player tagged can immediately sign the offer sheet and guarantee the tag price, so what are the club alternatives? Free agency is going to be lean this year and the draft, although months away, needs to be considered. Here's a quick look at position depth projections for the first two rounds.
Quarterback -- 3-4
Defensive end -- 9-10
Running back -- 4-5
Defensive tackle -- 4-5
Wide receiver -- 6-7
Linebacker -- 5-6
Tight end -- 2-3
Safety -- 2-3
Offensive tackle -- 5-6
Cornerback -- 4-5
Guard -- 3-4
Center -- 1-2
If a team is considering placing a franchise tag on its star cornerback, it might be a real good year to do it. With a very low number of potential draft picks early in the draft, it might be difficult to replace talent.
For example, the Patriots have about $28 million of cap space, the potential free-agent class doesn't appear to have anyone better than Asante Samuel, and by the time the Pats select in the draft at No. 28, it could be hard to predict if a good corner will still be on the board.
On the other hand, a team considering tagging a defensive end might have to think long and hard about investing $8.64 million in a slightly above-average player when the draft appears to be well stocked at the position with nine to 10 players projected.
Let's go back to Cory Redding for a minute. He has four years in the NFL with 12 sacks and 102 tackles in 57 games. He had his best year in 2006 with eight sacks -- mostly as a defensive tackle. If he argues he is really an end and wants the DE franchise tag over the DT tag, the Lions will have to look at one sack every 4.75 games, and 1.75 tackles per game played. When you consider Detroit has draft selections at Nos. 2, 34 and 66, you would think the team should be able get a real good player at one of those spots.
Don't think this was a repost. Interesting Info about NFL tagging players.
Where to place tags can be tricky business
By Pat Kirwan
NFL.com Senior Analyst
(Feb. 12, 2007) -- Almost every team in the league is facing a situation where it is contemplating using a "tag" to retain a player or two.
The NFL rules state only one player per team can be tagged, and it has to be either the franchise tag (average salary of the top five players at the position) or the transition tag (average of the top 10 at the position). The franchise tag means that a team that might want to sign your player is going to have to compensate you with at least first- and third-round draft picks. For all practical purposes, a franchise tag retains the player. Even though it is a lot of money, players generally hate the franchise tag because it eliminates their ability to test free agency.
This year, NFL teams will average close to $15 million in cap space, and the players believe there is a huge pot of gold waiting for them if they can get free.
Cory Redding likely will be miffed if Detroit chooses to tag him.
A transition tag, although less expensive, can really expose the club if another team wants the player. There is no draft compensation and the original club has the right only to match the offer the competing club submits. After the whole drama that surrounded Seattle's Steve Hutchinson last year when he received a transition tag instead of a franchise tag and the Vikings put a deal together that made it difficult for the Seahawks to match (they eventually lost him), I would be shocked if any team used a transition tag this year.
Another problem facing teams is which "position tag" to use on certain players. Centers, guards and tackles are bundled in a category called offensive linemen. But on the defensive line, the tag structure is broken down into tackles and ends.
The first case where there could be a conflict is Detroit defensive lineman Cory Redding, who has started more games at end than tackle in his career, but in 2006 -- because of injuries to Detroit's defensive line -- he moved inside. The franchise tag price for a defensive tackle is $1,900,000 less than defensive end.
Here are the tag prices (in millions) for each position. Keep in mind a team is going to have the amount of cap space available to put the tag on the player. If it doesn't, it must create the space by renegotiating other player contracts or cut players to open up the space.POSITION FRANCHISE TAG TRANSITION TAG
Tight end $4.37 $3.61
Wide receiver $7.61 $7.04
Offensive line $9.55 $8.26
Quarterback $12.61 $10.18
Running back $6.99 $5.98
Cornerback $7.79 $6.76
Defensive end $8.64 $7.70
Defensive tackle $6.77 $5.54
Linebacker $7.20 $6.48
Safety $4.49 $3.98
Kicker/Punter $2.07 $1.92
Can you see why a fullback would never get tagged? He's grouped in with the top running backs and there's no chance a fullback is getting a $6.99 million tag. Can you see why a real athletic tight end who lines up more like a wide receiver than an in-line blocker might be frustrated with his position status? It doesn't matter if he has caught 100 passes in a season -- the tag system says his value is $3.24 million less.
When it comes to quarterback, you better be really sure the guy can play, because he is going to take up close to 11 percent of the team salary cap. And how about the "hybrid" defensive backs coming into the league who tackle like safeties and cover like corners? There's a $3.3 million difference when it comes time to tag them.
In a few years, Shawne Merriman might be wishing he were playing defensive end.
One very unusual situation exists at linebacker. It would be easy to see why outside linebackers who play in 3-4 would drive the position price -- especially with the sacks they can accumulate -- but when you look at the top 10 highest paid linebackers, it looks like this: Ray Lewis, Zach Thomas, Keith Bulluck, Derrick Brooks, Takeo Spikes, Dan Morgan, Al Wilson, Brian Urlacher, Rosevelt Colvin, Donnie Edwards. No wonder why general managers seem to like the 3-4 defense. Instead of paying defensive ends to rush the passer -- and eventually having to tag them with an $8.64 million number -- they instead rush the passer with an outside linebacker who tags for $1.4 million less.
With only 10 days remaining to declare which players will be tagged, it is wise for teams to make sure they know the market at the position. A player tagged can immediately sign the offer sheet and guarantee the tag price, so what are the club alternatives? Free agency is going to be lean this year and the draft, although months away, needs to be considered. Here's a quick look at position depth projections for the first two rounds.
Quarterback -- 3-4
Defensive end -- 9-10
Running back -- 4-5
Defensive tackle -- 4-5
Wide receiver -- 6-7
Linebacker -- 5-6
Tight end -- 2-3
Safety -- 2-3
Offensive tackle -- 5-6
Cornerback -- 4-5
Guard -- 3-4
Center -- 1-2
If a team is considering placing a franchise tag on its star cornerback, it might be a real good year to do it. With a very low number of potential draft picks early in the draft, it might be difficult to replace talent.
For example, the Patriots have about $28 million of cap space, the potential free-agent class doesn't appear to have anyone better than Asante Samuel, and by the time the Pats select in the draft at No. 28, it could be hard to predict if a good corner will still be on the board.
On the other hand, a team considering tagging a defensive end might have to think long and hard about investing $8.64 million in a slightly above-average player when the draft appears to be well stocked at the position with nine to 10 players projected.
Let's go back to Cory Redding for a minute. He has four years in the NFL with 12 sacks and 102 tackles in 57 games. He had his best year in 2006 with eight sacks -- mostly as a defensive tackle. If he argues he is really an end and wants the DE franchise tag over the DT tag, the Lions will have to look at one sack every 4.75 games, and 1.75 tackles per game played. When you consider Detroit has draft selections at Nos. 2, 34 and 66, you would think the team should be able get a real good player at one of those spots.
