On Monday the two-week window opened for NFL teams to use their franchise tag on a desired player of theirs. Will the New York Giants use the tag on defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul?
The Giants have until March 2 to apply the exclusive or non-exclusive franchise tag on Pierre-Paul, who bounced back in 2014 and recorded 12.5 sacks after amassing a total of just 8.5 in 2012 and 2013. The 25-year-old's best season came in 2012 when he registered 16.5 sacks, 72 tackles, seven passes defended and two forced fumbles.
Here are the differences between the two types of franchise tags:
Exclusive Franchise Tag: Pierre-Paul would be guaranteed the average salary of the top five players at his position (around $15 million) for the 2015 season and only the Giants would be able to negotiate with him.
Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag: Pierre-Paul would be guaranteed the same salary, but other NFL teams would be able to negotiate with him. The Giants maintain the right to match any offer submitted by another team, but if they decided to let him sign elsewhere, that team would have to surrender two first-round picks to New York.
"The two sides had not exchanged numbers as recently as the beginning of the month and nothing had changed as of Monday, according to a person familiar with the talks. These next two weeks are expected to be vital," writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. "...Having Pierre-Paul play under the franchise tag may be the best option for the Giants, if they still need to see more to convince them he's worth a lucrative long-term investment."
There remain a couple of issues with this situation. While the franchise tag would be a good option for New York, its use can create tension between an organization and a player because it doesn't provide long-term security. This was epitomized last season in the same situation with tight end Jimmy Graham and the New Orleans Saints, although there were other reasons behind that dispute. The two sides ultimately settled on a four-year, $40 million contract.
Let's not forget that the Giants have other potential contract issues with free agents such as Antrel Rolle, Stevie Brown and others. They also face a decision with quarterback Eli Manning, who is in the final year of his current deal.
Pierre-Paul noted towards the end of the season that he believes he's "worth a lot of money," which means he may be seeking a long-term deal. However, the Giants might be reluctant to negotiate such a contract because of his inconsistency.
We'll see what comes out of any discussions over the next two weeks.
