In a surprising turn of events, eight NFL players were franchise tagged prior to Tuesday’s deadline, affecting the free agency market for several notable players. Among the winners and losers of the franchise tag deadline are some high-profile names that will now hit the open market.
One player who emerged as a winner is Saquon Barkley, who was not tagged by the Giants, giving him the opportunity to test the market and potentially secure a lucrative deal. On the other hand, Calvin Ridley was not tagged by the Jaguars, making him a loser as he now enters free agency without the security of a franchise tag.
Tee Higgins found himself on the winning side as he was tagged by the Bengals, doubling his career earnings in the process. However, Baker Mayfield was not as fortunate, as he must now work out a contract with the Buccaneers before hitting free agency.
Chris Jones is another player who came out on top, avoiding the tag by the Chiefs and having the chance to negotiate a long-term deal with another team. In contrast, Winfield missed out on the tag by the Buccaneers, potentially earning less than his projected market value.
Xavier McKinney is set to cash in as he remains available in free agency, while Josh Jacobs faces the challenge of finding a new team after not being tagged by the Raiders. L’Jarius Sneed will make more money under the tag than his projected market value, while Brian Burns awaits a long-term deal after being tagged with the Panthers’ non-exclusive tag.
As the NFL free agency period heats up, these players will be closely watched to see where they ultimately land and what impact they will have on their new teams. Stay tuned to ‘Poh Diaries’ for all the latest updates on the NFL offseason.
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