The deadline for NFL teams to apply the franchise and transition tags passed Monday afternoon, and a number of the league’s best players are no longer set to hit the open market. However, the decision some teams made not to tag their soon-to-be free agents are just as significant.
Dez Bryant, Justin Houston headline franchised tagged players
The free agent pool changed dramatically over Monday.
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In an unsurprising development, the Dallas Cowboys tagged Dez Bryant. Bryant would have been one of the top players on the open market, but will spend at least one more year in Dallas. The Cowboys have been adamant about signing him to a long-term deal, something that could still happen this offseason.
Two of free agency's top edge rushers will also be kept off the market. The Kansas City Chiefs applied the franchise tag to linebacker Justin Houston who led the league in sacks last season with 22. Meanwhile, the New York Giants have also tagged edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul. Both players are young (26), and will require massive extensions to keep long term.
The Detroit Lions electing against the franchise tag for All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh could prove detrimental. Suh is the biggest name on the free agent market at a time when the Oakland Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars and several other teams need to spend money to reach the CBA-mandated salary cap floor. If Detroit cannot work out a deal before March 7, the date when free agents can begin communicating with other teams, its not expected that Suh would return. At the same time, it would have been difficult for the Lions to commit $27 million to Suh for the upcoming season as the franchise tag requires.
Elsewhere, the Denver Broncos chose wideout Demaryius Thomas over tight end Julius Thomas. Demaryius just completed his third consecutive season of at least 1,430 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Julius hits the market after leading all tight ends in touchdowns with 12.
Additionally, the New England Patriots made the surprise move to tag place kicker Stephen Gostkowski over safety Devin McCourty. McCourty immediately becomes the top free agent at a position where talent is scarce across the league. He could potentially earn a contract similar to what Jairus Byrd signed last offseason with the New Orleans Saints.
Other important non-tag decisions were made by the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles who face the prospect of losing Randall Cobb and Jeremy Maclin respectively. Both wideouts finished 2014 with over 1,275 receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns. However, neither receiver had produced a 1,000-yard season before last year, and each has missed significant time to injury. Accordingly, it's difficult to determine their market.
In Buffalo, the Bills decided to let defensive end Jerry Hughes test the open market. Hughes, who recorded 19.5 sacks over the past two seasons, becomes one of the top edge rushers on the market. He has spent the last two seasons in Buffalo after an unsuccessful three-year run with the Indianapolis Colts.
Some teams elected to use the cheaper, less secure transition tag instead, however. The Miami Dolphins went that route with Charles Clay, a versatile tight end/H-back who would have received plenty of interest on the open market.
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