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The Forgotten Factor in the Giants' Franchise Tag Dilemma

If the Giants use the franchise tag on QB Daniel Jones, it could potentially have this effect on the team's goals.
Patricia Traina|
The Forgotten Factor in the Giants' Franchise Tag Dilemma
The Forgotten Factor in the Giants' Franchise Tag Dilemma

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New York Giants

It's tagging season in the NFL, and while not exactly a replica of the popular children's game of "Tag, you're it!" the idea is very similar.

Beginning today and through March 7, NFL teams can select one player to receive the franchise or transition tag. There are several differences, starting with how much each pays based on the recipient's position.

Let's first break down what the tags mean and cost and then look at the forgotten factor, which could eventually be the fallout depending on how (or if) the Giants use the franchise tag.

We'll take the case of quarterback Daniel Jones, who figures to be the team's top candidate for the franchise tag if a deal isn't worked out by March 7. Jones would cost the Giants $32.416 million on the non-exclusive franchise tag, which is fully guaranteed and immediately comes out of the Giants' available cap space once the tag is applied (regardless if signed).

The non-exclusive franchise tag means that Jones could still entertain offers from other teams, but if he were to sign with any of them, the Giants would receive two first-round draft picks from that team as compensation.

By contrast, the exclusive franchise tag, which has a higher amount, means no team may negotiate with Jones. (The Giants aren't expected to use the exclusive tag on the quarterback.)

The transition tag for a quarterback would cost $29.504 million. The difference is that Jones could negotiate with other teams who, if they sign him to an offer sheet, give the Giants five days to decide whether to match the offer or walk away. If they walk away, the Giants would not be entitled to compensatory draft picks.

Teams rarely use the transition tag because, in doing so, they're giving up leverage by allowing other teams to do their negotiating for them. And if a team with significantly more cap space ends up pricing the player out of his original team's budget, the whole process usually becomes a lost cause for the original team.

Once a tag is applied, a team can rescind it if it chooses so long as the tender isn't signed. But the tag may not be re-used on another player in the same league year. Likewise, if a tagged player ends up signing a multi-year deal, the "tag" disappears (though not the cash payout, which the team must meet in the first year via a combination of base salary, signing bonus, roster bonus, etc.).

The Ripple Effect

There is a concern--and perhaps rightfully so--that if the Giants and Jones, who recently switched representation, don't get a deal done by the March 7 deadline for the tag, that could hamper the team's efforts to retain Barkley, whose representation might decide to wait on any further talks with the Giants (assuming a gap still exists) pending the outcome of what happens with Jones.

In an ideal situation, the deal for Jones, whom Pro Football Talk speculates is looking for as much as $45 million annually, would be signed, sealed, and delivered, would be done by March 7 to free up the franchise tag for Barkley. The franchise tag for a running back is $10.091 million--far less than the tag for a quarterback, but still a significant chunk of change.

But with this development of Jones switching agents, there could be another notable ripple effect that not many are currently discussing.

That would be the man who is arguably the Giants' third-most important free agent: defensive back Julian Love. Not much has been said about Love's status, perhaps because his representation, like Barkley's, had bye-week discussions with the Giants about a new deal.

But if the Giants need to use the franchise tag on Jones, it could make it very difficult for the team to retain Love and make any necessary roster upgrades--even if they rework/shed some of their other existing contracts.

 

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

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