The Franchise Tag Dilemma

Given the fact that the Ravens and Lamar Jackson have struggled to reach a long-term deal for well over a year, coupled with the pressure coming from the NFLPA for Lamar to push for a fully guaranteed deal, there’s little doubt that the franchise tag will come into play. The only mystery is the type of franchise tag that GM Eric DeCosta opts to use (exclusive or non-exclusive) and whether the strategy is to tag and trade Lamar, tag him to continue negotiations or let him play under the tag.

The window to use the franchise tag starts on February 21 and ends on March 7. The non-exclusive tag for quarterbacks is estimated to be $32.45M while the exclusive is expected to come in at $42.25M. The non-exclusive franchise tag gives the player an opportunity to negotiate with other teams. If the tagged player reaches an agreement in principle with another club, the incumbent team has the right to match the offer. If the incumbent chooses not to match, they will receive two first-round picks as compensation. With the exclusive franchise tag, no team other than the incumbent can negotiate with the player.

[Related Article: Solving The Lamar Riddle]

One of the risks of the non-exclusive franchise tag, is that a winning team could make a play for Lamar, which would make the awarded picks less attractive than those from a team that regularly struggles. More food for thought, the Dolphins, Saints, Browns, Rams and 49ers are all without a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and consequently, none of them can extend an offer sheet to Lamar (assuming they wanted to) should the Ravens use the non-exclusive franchise tag. With the exclusive franchise tag, teams can dictate who they opt to trade with, presumably with a team that has ample draft capital.

For the moment, it would appear that some kind of franchise tag awaits Lamar Jackson. And staying with the moment, either tag, exclusive or non-exclusive, could put the Ravens over the cap. Currently the Ravens have $28.03M in cap space. That said, there is a slight window of opportunity.

First to reiterate, teams looking to use the franchise must tender their offer between February 21 and March 7. But teams do not have to be in cap compliance until March 15 at 4PM. Theoretically, the Ravens could apply the exclusive tag on Lamar, work out a trade with an agreement in principle and then complete the trade when the new league year begins on March 15th at 4PM to attain cap compliance.

But for the sake of argument, let’s play devil’s advocate and assume that the Ravens don’t make that trade by March 15. DeCosta will need to find about $14.22M in cap space ($42.25M – $28.03M) just to be in compliance if he chooses the exclusive tag. And that leaves absolutely ZERO room to add players.

Of course an extension for Lamar would create ample space to make some moves but even then, if the Ravens plan to adequately address that severely under nourished wide receiver room and weaponize their franchise quarterback, there’s more work to be done by DeCosta and his trusty cap guru, Pat Moriarty.

RSR’s cap guru Brian McFarland has put together the following chart. It features players whose contracts represent opportunities to create cap space if they are released or traded.

• Calais Campbell is contemplating retirement and if he does exactly that, he represents $7M in cap savings. That said, the Ravens are hoping that Calais returns, presumably at a more favorable cap number.

• With the development of Geno Stone and the promising future of Kyle Hamilton, not to mention Brandon Stephens’ versatility, Chuck Clark is expendable and represents $3.64M in cap savings if traded or released.

• Devin Duvernay started out well but if the Ravens use the cap space they create to land a DeAndre Hopkins via trade, for example, and add another receiver to the room with a high-end draft pick, that $4.308M in cap space looks tempting. And let’s be honest, Duv wasn’t all that impressive as a return specialist this season outside of the opening kick during the Ravens home opener against the Dolphins.

• Unless the Ravens do something in the draft with the running back position, Gus Edwards seems safe as does Patrick Mekari whose versatility provides quality depth to the offensive line.

• Morgan Moses appears safe as well, unless the team feels that Daniel Faalele is ready to step in. I think Faalele is another year away.

• Michael Pierce played well to start the season but was sidelined with a biceps injury. If Campbell leaves, the team may want to retain Pierce, but conditioning and injuries have been an issue for the behemoth defender. That said, given the potentially depleted depth at interior D-line, it’s unlikely that Pierce is moved.

• Pat Ricard is too critical to the run game to part with, unless the team thinks that one of John Harbaugh’s favorites from Michigan, Ben Mason, is ready to move up from the practice squad.

• Kevin Zeitler is going nowhere but it is possible that he’s earned an extension and a new deal could lighten his load on the cap in 2023.

Do you have a headache yet?

Just imagine how EDC feels.

There’s a lot that of work ahead. Changes are coming.

Will one of those changes be at quarterback?