The franchise tag window closed on Tuesday afternoon with six players receiving the restrictive one-year tender: 
- Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, $15.209MM (story)
- Chiefs outside linebacker Dee Ford, $15.443MM (story)
- Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence, $20.57MM (story)
- Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, $15.967MM (story)
- Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark, $17.128MM (story)
- 49ers kicker Robbie Gould, $5MM (story)
The tags, as expected, took some of this year’s top players out of the free agent frenzy, which begins on March 13. There were also some notable absences, including Giants safety Landon Collins, Patriots linebacker Landon Collins, and Eagles quarterback Nick Foles. All of those players figure to strike it rich with new teams.
From here, these six teams have until July 15 to work out extensions with their franchise tagged players. If no deal is struck, the players will be bound by the terms of the tender. Of course, as we saw with Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell in 2018, players can skip mandatory workouts and even games, if they are willing to forfeit cash and hold off on signing.
Potential holdouts aside, you can expect to see most of these players back with their respective clubs in 2019. The key exception, of course, is Ford, who has been dangled in trade talks.
By franchise a kicker? Too many options available.
Why?
A great kicker is hard to find so franchising him is smart.
especially given that he was likely heading back to Chicago. Franchising a kicker isnt cost prohibitive, and it isnt as if the 49ers had anyone else to franchise here.
Notable absences from the list were Giants safety Landon Collins and Patriots linebacker Landon Collins! I didn’t know he played for both teams and multiple positions!
How do two players at the same position get “franchised” at over $3million apart? Isn’t the tag the average of the top 5 salaries at that position? So shouldn’t the tag be the same for players tagged at the same position?
It’s because Lawrence was franchised last year too, so he gets 125% of the value compared to a first year franchise offer. Same thing happened with Kirk Cousins in Washington.
Thank you!