Players to watch.......If they are not franchise tagged by 4pm Monday.

[michael89156]

NFL Franchise Tags: Players to watch



By Sander Philipse

Mar 3 2013, 6:28p







Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE



The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have said they won't use the franchise tag, even to retain defensive end Michael Bennett. But plenty of other teams will use it, and they have until 4:00 p.m. ET tomorrow to do so. Jairus Byrd, Michael Johnson, Pat McAfee, Ryan Clady and Henry Melton have already been tagged. Jared Cook will reportedly also be tagged. But who should we keep an eye on next? Pro Football Talk has a good overview, and I'll pick out a few players the Bucs are especially likely to be interested in.



Atlanta Falcons: Brent Grimes and William Moore
 
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need secondary help, especially at cornerback. Brent Grimes has been a perpetual problem for the Bucs, and especially Josh Freeman, and he would fit in Tampa as a physical, athletic cornerback -- although his size is far from ideal. Another two problems there: he will be 30 once the season starts, and has missed more games than he has played the past two season. Those are major red flags when it comes to free agents, and the Bucs would do well to build in some protection into a potential contract -- or just make it cheap.

William Moore is also an intriguing player, but a relatively poor fit. He's not a very rangy corner and is better suited to in-the-box play than deep safety play. The Bucs already have Barron as the in-the-box specialist, so either he or Moore would be out of position. Plus, there's always the Ronde Barber factor.

One more factor: as @NFLosophy has pointed out, the Bucs love stealing from division rivals. Keydrick Vincent, Michael Koenen and Carl Nicks are proof of that -- as is the team's flirtation with Curtis Lofton last season.

Green Bay Packers: Greg Jennings

The Buccaneers need a slot receiver, and they might make a play for Jennings, who is not expected to demand a lot of money. Still, that would be unexpected, as sinking that much money into one receiving corps is probably a bad long-term investment.

Kansas City Chiefs: Branden Albert

A young and pretty good (though not elite) left tackle? That's always an option you have to examine, even though the Bucs are unlikely to pursue it with Donald Penn still on the roster.

Miami Dolphins: Jake Long
See Branden Albert.

Minnesota Vikings: Phil Loadholt

A solid right tackle who is about to enter his prime? Why not. Dotson would be relegated to pretty good depth, but it would be doable at the right price tag. Unlikely, but possible.

Cincinnati Bengals: Andre Smith
 
See Phil Loadholt, but add a much higher price tag and a bigger risk because of weight and motivation issues.

New England Patriots: Sebastian Vollmer and Wes Welker

See Greg Jennings for Wes Welker, and Phil Loadholt for Sebastian Vollmer.

New York Giants: Martellus Bennett

The Buccaneers have a big, gaping hole at tight end and Martellus Bennett could fill it easily. He's young, very talented, a bit inconsistent, and the Giants don't have a lot of cap space to retain him. This would probably be the most logical signing for the Buccaneers.

San Francisco 49ers: Dashon Goldson

Solid safety and is probably best as a center-fielder, but I wouldn't call him a difference maker. He's likely to be overpaid. Still, would be an upgrade over Ahmad Black, though perhaps not over Ronde Barber.




http://www.bucsnation.com/2013/3/3/4060828/nfl-franchise-tag-william-moore-brent-grimes-wes-welker-buccaneers

[DonkeyHunter]

Think we actually make a play for Goldson?

[mgchat76]

I would add Houston's Glover Quin to this list.  He's young and wouldn't cost as much as Goldson.  All signs point to him staying with the Texans, though.

[The Anti-Java]

I would add Houston's Glover Quin to this list.  He's young and wouldn't cost as much as Goldson.  All signs point to him staying with the Texans, though.

Goldson wants 8mil per.  He wants to be in the top 5 in safety pay.  Nice player, but damn !


Quin could be tagged.  We will know soon.  The tag for him is 6.9mil.

[TBChucky]

I'll take Loadholt and Bennett.  Goldson would be nice next to Barron, but that price is kinda high.

[CaptainStagger]

Yeah Loadholt, Bennent, and a corner or two....I think we have the money for that.

[PassThePigSkin]

Dreaming. Bennett, Loadholt, and Sean Smith/Grimes would be the best off-season.

[The Anti-Java]

Deadline day: Tracking franchise tags



 By Gregg Rosenthal
Around The League Editor
Published: March 4, 2013 at 04:37 p.m.




Two weeks ago, I prepared for franchise tag season by predicting what all 32 teams would do.

Some of those predictions proved correct: (Michael Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals). Some didn't turn out so good: (Dashon Goldson, San Francisco 49ers). With the 4 p.m. ET now passed, let's look at what happened. Eight players got the franchise tag in the end.


This year's free-agent crop lacks star power, but provides immense depth. Gregg Rosenthal ranks available players. More ...


Tags applied



1. The Buffalo Bills used the franchise tag on safety Jairus Byrd.

2. The Cincinnati Bengals used the franchise tag on defensive end Michael Johnson.

3. The Indianapolis Colts used the franchise tag on punter Pat McAfee.

4. The Chicago Bears used the franchise tag on defensive tackle Henry Melton.

5. The Denver Broncos placed the franchise tag on offensive tackle Ryan Clady.

6. As we expected, the Miami Dolphins used the franchise tag on defensive tackle Randy Starks on Monday, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.

7. In a surprise move, the Dallas Cowboys used the franchise tag on linebacker/defensive end Anthony Spencer. It's the second straight year Spencer received the tag. The Cowboys continue to make the same mistakes over and over.

8. The Kansas City Chiefs used the franchise tag on tackle Branden Albert after a last minute, long-term contract for Dwayne Bowe.




 




Did not get tagged
 

» Sebastian Vollmer, New England Patriots tackle: Cornerback Aqib Talib was also an option. The Patriots have a lot of work to do with Wes Welker also slated for free agency.

» Steven Hauschka, Seattle Seahawks kicker: No one is talking about this one, but it makes a lot of sense.
»  Jared Cook, Tennessee Titans tight end: This came as a surprise. Cook's agent was going to argue that Cook should be paid like a wide receiver, and the Titans decided they didn't want to bother with a legal battle.   
» Glover Quin, Houston Texans safety: He's a high-priority re-signing for the Texans, but not high enough to get the franchise tag.

» Dashon Goldson, San Francisco 49ers safety: It's surprising -- and somewhat telling -- that the 49ers will let Goldson test the market.

» William Moore, Atlanta Falcons safety: There were varying reports about the Falcons' tag, but they chose not to use the franchise tag on their excellent young starter.

» Phil Loadholt, Minnesota Vikings tackle: The Vikings want to keep Loadholt. It will have to be via a long-term contract.

» Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers wide receiver: This will free up room, in theory, for the Packers to retain Jermichael Finley.


» Danny Amendola, St. Louis Rams wide receiver : General manager Les Snead told Around the League at the combine that Amendola would not be tagged.

» Joe Flacco and New York Giants tackle Will Beatty avoided potential tags by signing long-term deals.

Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.

[JDouble]

I might consider Goldson even at 7 or 8 million. I like him for his hard hits and nasty play...I just don't know if he has the cover skills we want in a free safety. Can't have two strong safeties bacl there. If coach does think he has the coverage skills needed, I think he'd be worth the money. We have zero funds dedicated to the seconday. Other than Barron's $3M per year there is nothing. Sign two CBs and Goldson and we'd have around $20M tied up in the seconday...which is normal.

Sean Smith, Goldson, Barron, Grimes...be a pretty amazing turn around in one offseason.

[Madman]

These guys would be great additions...

Dashon Goldson, San Francisco 49ers safety
William Moore, Atlanta Falcons safety
Phil Loadholt, Minnesota Vikings tackle

[JDouble]

Another thing on Goldson....If he can be had for $8M a year it's a good freaking deal. Look at the top 10 highest paid safeties.

http://www.spotrac.com/top-salaries/nfl/cap-hit/safety/


$8M a year would only make him the 8th highest paid guy at his position. Dude is probably going to try for $10M/year.

[The Anti-Java]

Another thing on Goldson....If he can be had for $8M a year it's a good freaking deal. Look at the top 10 highest paid safeties.

http://www.spotrac.com/top-salaries/nfl/cap-hit/safety/


$8M a year would only make him the 8th highest paid guy at his position. Dude is probably going to try for $10M/year.

That raises the question though.......why are they letting him test the market.   No tag.

[GameTime]

im baffled at the desire for goldson, especially at that price.  he seems to be the exact same player as barron, only 5 years older.   everyone questions his coverage, but everyone seems to want to pair him and barron?

[JDouble]

Maybe they can't afford to spend $8M on a safety? I don't know. Why didn't we resign Michael Bennett?

Safety Donte Whitner makes $5M and Carlos Rodgers makes $7.5M...that's about it in their secondary. Maybe they are making room for Revis.

[The Anti-Java]

Maybe they can't afford to spend $8M on a safety? I don't know. Why didn't we resign Michael Bennett?

Safety Donte Whitner makes $5M and Carlos Rodgers makes $7.5M...that's about it in their secondary. Maybe they are making room for Revis.

Hmmm....interesting.


The Niners could of tagged him for 7.4 mil.   Why not do that instead of negotiate with him starting at 8mil per ?

The only tme he was a free agent, the only team that offered him anything was New England, and they were only willing to pony up  2mil for one year.

Also, Goldson had the same number of picks last season as he had fines for illegal hits.     3