Top QB Joe Flacco - Flacco is the reigning Super Bowl MVP and easily the top FA QB. If he somehow hits FA he will get between 17-21 Million. The Tag Joe Flacco - I think he is an automatic tag but that shouldn't stop you from signing him. Easily a top 5 QB in the league. Top RB Reggie Bush - Bush is 27 and hasn't had any big set backs due to injury. RB is a position not highly regarded compared to WR but he has a skill set of a WR and in the right offense can really thrive. Bush will get around 5.5 Million. The Tag None - There is no RB worth using the tag so instead the next highly regarded RB will be Steven Jackson. Jackson is on the fence on retirement but if he returns its hard to find a better RB that beats his production. Jackson should get some heavy interest but being up there in age shouldn't get more than 5 Million. Top WR Wes Welker - I don't think the Pats will use the tag on Welker because of his age but I could be wrong everyone tags their top WR but if he hits his likely salary will be 9-10 Million. The Tag Dwayne Bowe, Mike Wallace, Victor Cruz, Danario Alexander, Greg Jennings, Brandon Gibson. Be prepared to overpay Emmanuel Sanders, Amendola, Domenix Hixon, Hartline, ETC. Top TE Martellus Bennett - Bennett had a terrific season with the Giants after stuggling to get out of Jason Witten's shadow in Dallas. Should be quite the bidding war and will see around 7 Million. The Tag None - I can't see anyone placing a tag on a TE unless they don't have anyone to tag. Some candidates is Dustin Keller and Brandon Meyers. Top OT Jake Long - Miami wont use the tag on Big Jake, he doesn't quite fit the scheme and has had a rough injury history. This site is full of homers so Big Jake will see at least 8 Million. The Tag Ryan Clady, Andre Smith, William Beatty, Sebastian Vollmer, Branden Albert. Any of these Tackles hit the market I expect to see some get at least 10 Million. Top OG Andy Levitre - Easily the top Guard in FA I fully expect the Bills to throw money to bring him back. Levitre will be seeing 8 Million. The Tag None - I can't foresee anyone using a tag on a guard but if anyone gets it Levitre would. Top 4-3 DE Michael Johnson - Easily the best DE available in FA. His 2012 season was his coming out party notching 11.5 sacks. His price tag will reach 12 Million easy. Maybe the Bengals should tag him? The Tag Michael Bennett - I can't see Tampa letting Bennett walk. He had a very productive year and will be hot commodity come FA. If he isn't in TB plans they should trade him if not expect Bennet to see at least 10 Million. Top 3-4 End Mike Devito - Best 3-4 Run defender in FA. Provided much needed stability for the Jets and will be a sought after player for teams running the 3-4. 6 Million is what I expect. The Tag None - I don't see anyone worthy of a tag. Top 4-3 DT Henry Melton - Easily the bets pass rushing DT in FA. Probably the most versatile guy to boot. 13 Million is what Melton will see if he doesn't get tagged. The Tag Henry Melton - Chicago better tag this guy. Top NT Alan Branch - Pretty slim pickings at Nose in FA. Pat Sims could contend but is often injured. Branch might see 4.5 Million. The Tag None - I don't see any tag being used on a NT. Top 3-4 OLB Paul Kruger - Kruger coming off a solid year and yet another Raven on the list. Going to be tough keeping these guys. Kruger should be seeing around 10 Million. The Tag Anthony Spencer - Really the only worthy tag worth using for the Cowboys. Need to keep the core of Ware and Spencer together. Top ILB Dannell Ellerbe - Ellerbe is finally coming to his own as a player and will be getting a nice pay day from some team. 6.5 Million should be is asking price. The Tag None - ... Top 4-3 OLB Phillip Wheeler - Slim pickings at OLB. Wheeler is the most productive LB and made the most of his time in Oakland. 5 Million seems reasonable for Wheeler. The Tag None - There is no one worth using the tag. Top MLB Rey Maualuga - LB is an eyesore in FA. Rey might not be the best but some team will overpay for him. Maualuga around 7 Million. The Tag None - ... Top CB Chris Houston - Detroit needs secondary help and they may very well lose the best CB in FA. Houston will probably see 9 Million. Actually might see a few corners get paid this. Brent Grimes comes to mind. The Tag Chris Houston - Lose out on Gosder or Houston. Detroit has tough decision. Top SS William Moore - ATL has one of the best safety duos in the league with DeCoud and Moore. Atlanta should consider tagging Moore. 8 Million seems reasonable. The Tag William Moore - Find it hard to use a tag on him but Moore would be the only SS I'd consider. Top FS Jarius Byrd - Unlikey to be a FA and get the tag but easily one of the top players at his position. 11 Million for Byrd. The Tag Dashon Goldson - Byrd likely to get it so it would be smart to tag Goldson as well. Goldson will probably get similar to Byrd.
The quarterback exclusive franchise tag will be between $18.0M - $20.0M and I don't know if Baltimore will reach that deep for Flacco... I think they may let him test free agency in hopes of getting him a bit cheaper. I doubt any running backs will be tagged. The only wide receiver I see being non-exclusive tagged is Bowe. I doubt PSG is willing to shell out $10M+ for Jennings when he has three wide receivers who are more than capable of handling the snaps left behind from Jennings. Wallace I see being let go solely because Antonio Brown will be a commitment and the Steelers are struggling to stay under the cap. Cruz and Alexander will be tendered, IMO. I also doubt any tight ends will be tagged unless the Giants GM is a big fan of Bennett.. he could get the non-exclusive tag. Ryan Clady is a likely non-exclusive tag while Branden Albert and Sebastian Vollmer are potential non-exclusive tags. Jake Long will likely hit the open market. We know that Levitre is likely to hit the open market because Buffalo has announced their intentions to tag Byrd... they could change their mind but it seems doubtful.
Well I doubt anyone would think I would let both walk or keep Levitre over Byrd...so no harm in saying it. I'm of the philosophy you don't pay guards big money......unless their name is Steve Hutchinson or Alan Faneca in their primes.
Two things... Jake Long WILL be non exclusive franchise tagged by the Dolphins here. Don't believe GIK for a second. I do believe the Bills though. And as for me... Amendola... Jackson... you'll just have to wait and see what the transition holds.
I wouldnt be so sure about me not tagging Jennings. There is a reason Im clearing cap space. Besides, I may not have 3 capable WR on my roster soon.....just sayin.
Well it actually benefited me by putting it out there. It immediately stopped everyone from trying to include a FS in their trade offers. That alone was worth it ;p
