The New England Patriots have made a predictable move, choosing not to utilize the franchise tag on any of their upcoming free agents before the Tuesday deadline. This decision, which came down before 4 p.m. ET, means that several key players will now have the opportunity to explore offers from other NFL teams when the free agency period officially opens.
Initially, a group of six players were eligible to be franchise-tagged. Among them was K’Lavon Chaisson, who is arguably the most prominent free agent for the Patriots this spring and was their leading sack artist. Other players who could have theoretically received the tag include tight end Austin Hooper, offensive tackles Vederian Lowe and Thayer Munford Jr, defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, and safety Jaylinn Hawkins.
However, the reality of the situation was that none of these players were ever seriously considered for the franchise tag. The cost of such a tag varies significantly by position, ranging from approximately $15 million for a tight end to as much as $27 million for a defensive tackle. Given these substantial figures, it was unlikely the Patriots would commit such a large sum to any of these individuals. Consequently, for the second year in a row, all of the Patriots' unrestricted free agents are set to test the open market.
But here's where it gets interesting... While the franchise tag is off the table as a unilateral decision for the Patriots' front office, it doesn't entirely close the door on these players returning. The team can still negotiate and reach new agreements with them before free agency officially begins next week. The franchise tag, which guarantees a player a one-year contract, simply won't be the mechanism used to retain them.
Across the league, a total of four franchise tags were applied. The Atlanta Falcons tagged tight end Kyle Pitts, the Dallas Cowboys selected wide receiver George Pickens, and the New York Jets tagged running back Breece Hall. Additionally, the Indianapolis Colts made a notable move by applying the transition tag to quarterback Daniel Jones. The transition tag offers a team the right to match any offer another team makes to a player, but they don't receive compensation if they choose not to match.
And this is the part most people miss... NFL free agency is scheduled to kick off on Wednesday, March 11th, at 4 p.m. ET. However, two days prior to that, on Monday, March 9th, the legal tampering window will open. This is a crucial period where teams can begin negotiating with the agents of prospective free agents, even though no official signings can occur until the market opens.
Now, I'd love to hear your thoughts: Do you agree with the Patriots' decision to let their free agents hit the open market? Is it a sign of confidence in their existing roster, or a missed opportunity to secure valuable talent? Let me know in the comments below!
