Packers unlikely to use franchise tag this offseason
Don’t expect the Green Bay Packers to use the franchise tag this spring.
With Davante Adams and Corey Linsley already re-signed, it’s unlikely the Green Bay Packers will use the franchise tag this offseason.
Teams can use the franchise and transition tags from February 20, according to NJ.com, and have until the March 6 deadline to make a decision.
Even had Adams and Linsley not already been signed to long-term deals, it’s still unlikely the Packers would have tagged either of them.
Let’s first look at the Packers’ unrestricted free agents.
Packers 2018 unrestricted free agents
Ahmad Brooks, OLB
Davon House, CB
Jahri Evans, G
Brett Goode, LS
Quinton Dial, DT
Richard Rodgers, TE
Ulrick John, T
Demetri Goodson, CB
Jeff Janis, WR
Burnett is the only name on the list that stands out as a player the team would even consider franchise tagging, and even that is a stretch. And yes, that includes future Hall-of-Famer Jeff Janis.
While the numbers aren’t in for 2018 yet, using the franchise tag on Burnett last year would have meant paying him $10.9 million. The number will likely be higher this offseason.
Of those names above, only Burnett stands out as a priority for Green Bay to re-sign. And while general manager Brian Gutekunst should attempt to re-sign the veteran safety, if the price is too high, it’s entirely possible the Packers move on.
With the likes of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Josh Jones, Kentrell Brice and Marwin Evans on the roster, Gutekunst might feel the team already has adequate depth even if Burnett walks in free agency.
It’s hard to predict which big names will hit the open market before the franchise tag deadline passes. Once we hit March 6 and see the players still yet to re-sign with their teams, speculation will truly begin about where the top names will land.
A flurry of moves will begin around the league in the coming weeks as teams can begin using the franchise tag.
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Just don’t count on the Packers being one of them.