The franchise tag designation deadline comes Tuesday (March 5), bringing with it a flurry of late decisions from teams working out long-term deals with players.
We have known for a week or so that 49ers kicker Robbie Gould got tagged but neither Nick Foles or Le'veon Bell will receive the designation. Teams have until July 15 to negotiate long-term deals with players.
NOTE: Franchise tag figures are per OverTheCap.com.
TAGGED
Demarcus Lawrence - Defensive End - Dallas Cowboys - $20.5 million (€18.1 million/ £15.6 million)
The Dallas Cowboys are tagging Lawrence for a second year in a row -- meaning he will play at a higher franchise number than other defensive ends. It is understood Lawrence is unhappy with the decision and won't report to the Cowboys until he signs a long-term deal.
The defensive end was viewed as the best player available in free agency and looked set to receive significant contract offers. Dallas will want to lock him up before the summer but they are also working on extensions for Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott.
Lawrence has 25 sacks over the last two seasons and was selected to the last two Pro Bowls.
Dee Ford - Linebacker - Kansas City Chiefs - $15.4 million (€13.6 million/ £11.7 million)
The team has officially tagged Ford after general manager Brett Veach said as much back in February. The move was predictable considering Ford's monster 2018 - including career highs in sacks (13) and tackles (55) - after being injured all of 2017. The team figures to use the tag to see whether Ford's latest campaign was an outlier.
UPDATE: It has emerged the Chiefs are open to trading Ford, likely for a second round pick.
Jadeveon Clowney - Defensive End / Linebacker - Houston Texans - $17.1 million (€15.1 million/ £13.0 million)
The Houston Texans are tagging the former first overall pick. The two sides clearly couldn't get a long-term deal worked out but in a sign of good faith tagged the disruptive linebacker at the more costly defensive end figure, which gives him $ 1.7 million more.
Clowney has recorded 29 sacks and 55 starts with Houston. He missed 12 games in his rookie season due to a knee issue but has been a solid contributor since recovering; being named to the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Pro Bowls.
Lawrence has 25 sacks over the last two seasons in Dallas. He was named to the 2017 and 2018 Pro Bowls.
Frank Clarke - Defensive End - Seattle Seahawks - $17.1 million (€15.1 million/ £13.0 million)
Clarke is set to remain in Seattle following a career year in 2018. A former second-overall pick, the 25-year-old played the last four years on a $3.7 million deal.
The defensive end has 35 sacks in just 33 starts since coming into the league in 2015 -- with a team-high 13 of those sacks coming last season.
Grady Jarrett - Defensive Tackle - Atlanta Falcons - $15.2 million (€13.4 million/ £11.5 million)
Who can forget Jarrett's MVP-worthy performance in Super Bowl 51? Not Atlanta, obviously. The team is keeping their stand out defensive tackle around for another year. Jarrett, a fifth round pick in the 2015 draft, made just $2 million. Considered a rising talent around the league, the defensive tackle looked set to be highly sought after in free agency.
Jarrett logged 179 tackles, 14 sacks and three forced fumbles over his four seasons in Atlanta.
NO DESIGNATION
Landon Collins - Safety - New York Giants - $11.2 million (€9.9 million/ £8.5 million)
New York has reportedly told Collins he will not be tagged. He is set to be a huge name in a free agency stacked with safeties like Earl Thomas and Tyrann Matheiu.
The Giants would reportedly love to keep their safety around but not to the extent of the money he wants. The defensive back made it clear he would sit out until receiving a long-term contract which may be what forced the Giants to move on.
Collins was named First Team All-Pro in 2016 after intercepting five balls. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the past three seasons.
Trey Flowers - Defensive End - New England Patriots - $17.1 million (€15.1 million/ £13.0 million)
Flowers is a dominant player but the Patriots don't like to tie up their salary cap on single players under Bill Belichick --making this a difficult contract to predict. The 2015 fourth round pick has not missed a game for New England since sitting out all but one game in his rookie year due to injury, recording 21 sacks in that time.
Ndamukong Suh - Defensive Tackle - Los Angeles Rams - $15.2 million (€13.4 million/ £11.5 million)
Suh was brought in last year in an aggressive free agency for general manager Les Snead that ultimately brought the Rams to the Super Bowl. Whether the Rams keep one of its stars - who recorded 4.5 sacks and 19 QB hits in 2018 - will be interesting seeing as the defense is so stacked. Suh was paid $14 million for his 2018 contribution -- $1.2 million less than his franchise number would be in 2019.
Donovan Smith - Left Tackle - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - $ 14.1 million (€12.5 million/ £10.7 million)
Good offensive lineman rarely hit free agency, especially on the blindside meaning it's very likely the Buccaneers keep Smith around. The team is short on cap room however - estimated to be $2.1 million currently, per OverTheCap.com - meaning corresponding moves will need to be made. A long-term contract would most likely cost $12-13 million going forward.
UPDATE: Smith and Tampa Bay agreed to a 3-year, $41.5 million deal.
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