Under the new CBA, applying the franchise tag to a premier player has become a cheaper alternative than it once was for NFL teams.
But even considering that, there are a few players who still aren't worth the franchise tag.
Let's take a look.
Mario Williams
Williams is one of the finest defensive talents in the NFL today. But his cap hit were he to be franchised would be huge, likely above $20 million.
Frankly, the Houston Texans can't afford that, nor should they even consider paying it.
Rather, they should try to work out a long-term extension with Williams and hope he is willing to take a hometown discount. If not, it would seem the smart business move for Houston would be to let Williams leave via free agency.
Vincent Jackson, Dwayne Bowe, Marques Colston
Let's talk about wide receivers.
Yes, I think the Philadelphia Eagles should use the franchise tag on DeSean Jackson—he's a great fit for the offense, and his presence alone opens up the field for other players.
Yes, I think the Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts should use the tag on young receivers Stevie Johnson and Pierre Garcon if they can't re-sign them—they are young, dynamic playmakers.
No, I don't think the New England Patriots will need to use the tag on Wes Welker and will re-sign him.
Now to the ones listed above. Vincent Jackson will demand nearly $13 million if he is franchised again, a cap number the San Diego Chargers should avoid, namely by signing him to a long-term deal. If they can't, they can address the wide receiver position either in free agency or the draft.
The Chiefs' first priority should be retaining Brandon Carr, and if it isn't with a contract extension, then they should save the tag for him.
The Saints have a bevy of weapons already and far more pressing players to worry about—including Drew Brees and guard Carl Nicks—so they can't afford to use the tag on Colston unless they can work out long-term deals with those two.
Plus, the market might end up being rife with quality wide receivers. Some teams might simply be better served with a change at the position rather than franchising their own guy.
Paul Soliai
Here's the scoop on why it would be a bad move for the Miami Dolphins to tag the talented nose tackle, from Jason La Confora of NFL.com:
Soliai will be a hot commodity on the open market for 3-4 teams, but Miami franchised him a year ago and would have to pay him $15 million for one year.
And with the Dolphins perhaps implementing more 4-3 elements under new coordinator Kevin Coyle, that's going to be a tough nut to swallow.
Too much money to spend on a player who isn't a great fit in the team's changing scheme. Soliai will be a tough guy for Miami to lose, but the smart money says he doesn't stay unless the sides work out a long-term deal.
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