Kirk Cousins, Eric Berry And Others Who Will Have To Play Under Franchise Tag After Not Getting New Contracts
The deadline for franchise tagged players to get new contracts has passed and while Von Miller’s new deal is dominating headlines, the bigger story might be the guys who didn’t sign new pacts.
Here’s a look at the players who will be playing the 2016 season under the franchise tag and how their future prospects shape up.
Kirk Cousins, Washington
Kirk Cousins took a stranglehold on Washington’s quarterback job in 2015, giving the franchise stability at the position it hasn’t had in years. He threw for 4,166 yards and 29 touchdowns while completing 69.8 percent of his passes and leading the team to the playoffs.
Washington reportedly offered him around $16 million annually with upwards of $24 million guaranteed, but the 27-year-old balked. He was looking for a deal in the $44 million range in the first two years.
Cousins will now be in an advantageous position if he can prove 2015 wasn’t a fluke. He will make $19.953 million under the franchise tag this year, then hit free agency as a guy in the middle of his prime. Washington would be smart to sign him to a deal quickly if the team truly believes 2015 wasn’t an aberration.
Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs
Eric Berry was the 2015 Comeback Player of the Year and a first-team All-Pro just a year after undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. His is an amazing story of perseverance and courage. The Chiefs obviously want to keep the 27-year-old around, not just because he’s an unbelievable safety, but also for his inspirational story.
Berry was looking for a deal similar to the five-year, $51.25 million contract the Minnesota Vikings gave Harrison Smith this offseason. He didn’t get it. Instead he’ll play under the franchise tag for $10.8 million in 2016, then hit free agency next offseason. I’d still bet on these two sides working out a long-term deal at some point, but that’s not in the cards for now.
Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears
Alshon Jeffery is the Bears’ best receiver but the two sides have wildly disagreed on his value. The 26-year-old played in just nine games during the 2015 season thanks to some nagging injuries. He finished with 54 receptions for 807 yards and four touchdowns. That followed back-to-back excellent seasons. He posted 89 receptions for 1,421 yards and seven scores in 2013 and 85 catches for 1,133 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2014.
Jeffery will make $14.599 million in 2016 under the franchise tag. He was looking for a deal in the $12 million range annually, but the Bears would prefer him to take a contract more in line with the five-year, $46.671 million deal Keenan Allen signed with the Chargers in early June.
The Bears need Jeffery, and he’s probably more valuable to them than he would be to other teams around the league, because of his rapport with quarterback Jay Cutler. That said, the two sides are not close on a new deal and it may be a while before they get anything done, if at all.
Trumaine Johnson, St. Louis Rams
Trumaine Johnson surprised a lot of people in 2015 when he snagged seven interceptions and became a force at cornerback for the St. Louis Los Angeles Rams. The 26-year-old is a big (6-foot-2, 208 pounds), physical defensive back who fits what head coach Jeff Fisher wants to with his secondary.
Unfortunately, the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement and Johnson will make $13.952 million during the 2016 season. He’ll be able to hit free agency in the spring and could cash in big time if he can continue to play like he has.
With Janoris Jenkins leaving for the New York Giants in free agency, it really looked like the Rams would find a way to lock in Johnson. They better, because losing both of their top corners in back-to-back offseasons would be a serious blow to the team’s defense.
UPDATE: Muhammad Wilkerson wound up signing a new five-year, $85 million deal with the New York Jets just before the deadline. He was originally on this list.