Franchise Tag Candidates For The NFL Offseason

The Franchise Tag gives any team the ability to sign one player to a one year contract and gives them time to see if they would want to resign them. Here are some possible franchise tag candidates:

Kenny Golladay, Since the beginning of his career with the Detroit Lions, has been a steal for them as he was picked 96th in the 2017 NFL draft. Since then, Golladay has had two one thousand yard plus seasons, with one of them including 11 touchdowns. With a 6’4 214-pound frame, Golladay is not a receiver who guarantees yards after catch but a big receiver who wins the 50/50 balls. In Golladay’s last two seasons in Detroit, his average depth when targeted was 14.6 yards. In his time with Detroit, he has secured the wide receiver one role. Detroit is about to begin a rebuilding stage ultimately. Matthew Stafford is parting ways with Detroit, which makes it all the more likely that Golladay will be moving on as well. 

T Trent Williams

Trent Williams started 14 games in his first year with the San Francisco 49ers. Trent Williams, through the 14 games, only allowed four sacks. Williams was able to secure the blindside for Garoppolo, Mullens, and Beathard. Williams had a 91.9 overall grade via PFF. This season, the 49ers record made a complete 180 due to injuries, but that doesn’t take anything away from Williams’s high-level play. 

WR Chris Godwin

Chris Godwin may have taken a step back from last season stat-wise, but it is a significant reason why the Buccaneers are in the Superbowl. Racking up 840 yards and seven touchdowns with also missing four games this season. During the postseason, Godwin has hauled in 14 receptions and one touchdown and has 223 yards. Godwin had a career-high catch percentage with 77.4%. Alongside Mike Evans and Antonio Brown, Godwin has paired to make one of the most lethal wide receiving cores in the entire league. 

OLB Shaquil Barrett 

Although Shaquil Barrett took a step back this season when it comes to his sack count, he continued to be a force on the opposite side of Jason Piere-Paul. Barrett put up a career-high in QB hurries with 24 and still managed to have 41 QB pressures. Barrett’s stats may have taken a step back due to how loaded the Buccaneers defense is. When the defense needed Barrett the most, he was able to show up. In the NFC title game, Barrett put up a commanding three sacks on Aaron Rodgers. Also, with the three sacks, Barrett had two tackles for loss and 4 QB hits. Barrett’s sack numbers may have taken a step back because he was brought on a blitz 50 fewer times than last year.