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The New England Patriots did not make a move earlier than the NFL’s franchise tag deadline on Tuesday afternoon. Their solely considerably reasonable candidates — guard Joe Thuney and kicker Nick Folks — weren’t tagged and can due to this fact be part of the remainder of the staff’s free company class in the marketplace as soon as it opens on March 17.
Although meaning New England could have a number of expertise probably departing the group, it can also be ok with how franchise tag day went general. The Patriots, in actual fact, might be seen as one in every of its winners given who was or wasn’t tagged.
Take their main positions of want on the offensive aspect of the ball. Whereas the quarterback place doesn’t supply any high-end starter materials in free company this yr — the one elite free agent passer, Dak Prescott, was tagged by the Dallas Cowboys and can quickly signal a four-year contract extension worth $160 million — each the huge receiver and tight finish positions will see some intriguing gamers turn into obtainable subsequent week.
Solely two gamers on the offensive talent positions have been tagged: the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers used it on huge receivers Allen Robinson and Chris Godwin, respectively.
Whereas the 2 have been the very best go catchers headed without cost company this yr, another A-level gamers will probably be ready to be pursued by New England. Detroit Lions huge receiver Kenny Golladay in addition to tight ends Hunter Henry (Los Angeles Chargers) and Jonnu Smith (Tennessee Titans) are the largest names amongst them and a part of a bunch that additionally contains the Pittsburgh Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster and the Houston Texans’ Will Fuller.
All of those gamers will command hefty contracts regardless of the wage cap being anticipated to go down this yr as a result of Coronavirus pandemic. The extra of them will make it to the open market, nevertheless, the higher from the Patriots’ perspective.
Take the tight finish place for example. As a substitute of Hunter Henry getting the tag and all groups in want of an improve on the place then going after Jonnu Smith, thus driving the value up, two elite gamers on the place can be found this yr.
The NFL is a provide and demand league, and the provision at tight finish and huge receiver will probably be higher than may have been the case had the Chargers and Lions, for instance, determined to make use of their tags. Extra gamers in the marketplace means extra choices for groups such because the Patriots to discover, which could assist hold costs in a extra cheap vary than in any other case.
This all bodes effectively for New England given the staff’s wage cap scenario. Even after the trade that brought back Trent Brown from the Las Vegas Raiders, they’re projected to be among the many league leaders in cap house this yr and as such an energetic purchaser.
Franchise tag day may need eradicated some gamers from the market, however it additionally ensured that the cabinets will nonetheless be effectively stocked on the Patriots’ greatest positions of want.
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