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The deadline for teams to use their franchise tag on impending free agents is on Monday at 4 p.m., which is today! Teams can choose to prevent one of their free agents from hitting the open market by declaring them a franchise player, which then locks them into a one-year deal with the money fully guaranteed, and a small negotiating window where the team and player can work out a long term deal.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are not projected to use the franchise tag this year and to be honest, they don't have anyone worth tagging. The projected numbers for the franchise tag this year are as follows:
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Projected 2015 franchise-tag amounts (from NFL Media's Albert Breer)
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Position
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Salary
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|---|---|
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Quarterback
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$18.51 million
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Running back
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$10.93 million
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Wide receiver
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$12.80 million
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Tight end
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$8.33 million
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Offensive lineman
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$12.92 million
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Defensive tackle
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$11.17 million
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Defensive end
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$14.78 million
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Linebacker
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$13.17 million
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Cornerback
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$13.05 million
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Safety
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$9.60 million
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Kicker/punter
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$4.12 million
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There are plenty of free agents who could be tagged that the Jaguars might have their eye on. Here is a quick rundown of some free agents and the general feeling on what will happen today.
Will Get Tagged:
Demaryius Thomas, WR, Broncos (via @MileHighReport)Justin Houston, LB/DE, Chiefs (via @ArrowheadPride)Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys (via @AdamSchefter)Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, Giants (via @RapSheet)Stephen Gostkowski, K, Patriots (via @AdamSchefter)
Likely To Get Tagged:
Reportedly Not Getting Tagged:
Devin McCourty, FS, Patriots (via @PatsPulpit)
Ndamukong Suh, DT, Lions (via @PrideOfDetroit)
Live Blog:
3:00 PM: It's not a franchise tag, but with the Dolphins putting the transition tag on tight end Charles Clay, it'll be harder for him to leave Miami.
A transition tag sighting! Dolphins placed transition tag on TE Charles Clay, per a league source. TE transition tag is $7.071 million.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2015
2:48 PM: *SIRENS* The Patriots have put the franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski, meaning safety Devin McCourty is open to free agency! *SIRENS*
Patriots placed their franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski, per a league source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2015
1:51 PM: The Giants are locking down Jason Pierre-Paul. Damn.
Officially: Dez Bryant, Justin Houston, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Demaryius Thomas have been franchise tagged, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 2, 2015
1:48 PM: The Cowboys have reportedly put the franchise tag on Dez Bryant, leaving DeMarco Murray open to free agency. (And, no, I don't think the Jaguars will go after Murray.)
Cowboys officially have placed franchise tag on WR Dez Bryant, as @MikeGarafolo said. So DeMarco Murray will be allowed to test free agency.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2015
9:46 AM: DOUBLE UPDATE - The Broncos will be franchise tagging Demaryius Thomas and it looks like the Patriots are leaning more towards tagging kicker Stephen Gostkowski over safety Devin McCourty.
Broncos will place their franchise tag of WR Demaryius Thomas before today's 4 ET deadline.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2015
Interesting--Stephen Gostkowski a more likely candidate for tag than Devin McCourty http://t.co/G8c4cpc4n6
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 2, 2015
9:38 AM: The Lions announce they will NOT franchise tag Ndamukong Suh.
No tag for Ndamukong Suh, per the Lions. That would've been a monster check to write.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 2, 2015
9:35 AM: And one down. Justin Houston officially tagged.
Game of tag is underway: Chiefs officially placed their franchise tag on LB Justin Houston, per team source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2015
8:37 AM: WELL WELL WELL, what do we have here. Remember that scenario where we polled our readers and asked if they would take a certain trade from the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2015 NFL Draft? Seems like the general feeling is that Eagles head coach Chip Kelly could use running back LeSean McCoy as a bargaining chip to move up in the draft.
8:30 AM: There's no real news yet, but as I listed above there's still only three names that seem like guaranteed tags right now. It was reported the Giants would franchise tag JPP, but that still seems to be up in the air. One interesting tag involves Suh, since his salary in 2014 triggers a franchise tag number of $26.7 million (!), but the idea is the Lions would tag Suh and work out a long-term deal before the deadline.