2018 NFL Free Agency: 5 Names Who Could Avoid the Tag

The 2018 NFL free agency period is difficult to discuss at this point in time. It isn’t because of lacking interest or talent from the pool.

It’s more about the fact that nobody can be certain who will or won’t be available next March. This is due to one of the great equalizers:  the franchise tag. For the most part it’s easy to predict which players will receive it. Just follow the biggest names with expiring deals. The longer they go without an extension, the more obvious it will be that they get tagged.

However every year there are a couple surprise names that manage to duck the require one year of extra servitude and make it to the open market. Several different reasons can go into how this happens from money to poor relationships. Who are five names that could fit this category?

Le’Veon Bell (RB, Pittsburgh Steelers)

The Steelers are in a serious financial predicament. As things stand for next year they could end up considerably above the salary cap even if it rises again in 2018. Adding to the problem is that most of the contracts that would give them some cap relief belong to core stars like Roethlisberger, Brown and Shazier. There may just not be enough money left to keep Bell. This may explain why Pittsburgh spent a considerable draft pick on James Connor back in April. He may be the heir apparent.

Dee Ford (OLB, Kansas City Chiefs)

The Chiefs are really banking on Ford being the man to replace Tamba Hali moving forward across from Justin Houston. For good reason too. He had 10 sacks last year and despite injuries has two in four games so far this season. He’s really coming into his own as a pass rusher. Problem is Kansas City is still dealing with the price of being a good team, which is cap issues. They could be in the red next offseason without many ways to create space save for cutting or trading Alex Smith. Even then it might not create enough room to tag Ford.

Jarvis Landry (WR, Miami Dolphins)

Word spread quickly a month ago that the Dolphins were sending out feelers for possibly trading two-time Pro Bowl receiver Landry. It was a puzzling development at first but there are logical reasons why. Landry will no doubt demand top dollar next year. Not only does Miami likely not think he’s a true #1 receiver but they also don’t have much cap space to spare even if they did. Odds are they let him hit the market if they can’t tag him.

Kirk Cousins (QB, Washington Redskins)

There’s a simple reasoning behind the belief that Washington won’t tag Cousins. They’ve already done it twice. It would cost an enormous amount of money to do so a third time. Money that could be hazardous to their salary cap. Doing that for just another one-year deal makes little business sense. At this point it’s a fork in the road. Either the Redskins finally give up the money Cousins wants in an extension or they let him walk and try to replace him.

Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Titanic Coastal Quarterback Shift

Malcolm Butler (CB, New England Patriots)

The Patriots came so close to trading their Pro Bowl cornerback in April. They’d signed Stephon Gilmore to a lucrative new deal and seemed interested in recouping some draft picks lost in prior trades. Instead they held steady and brought him back for another year. That said the odds of them paying another expensive contract to a corner is unlikely. Chances are better they’ll do what they always do, let him find a new home and move forward.