Franchise Tag Candidates for the AFC West
Photo Credit: ESPN Fantasy Sports
The 2024 NFL offseason is in full swing as teams around the league prepare for what is slated to be a chaotic seven months leading up to the 2024-25 season. An important aspect of the free agency period, the franchise tag window is set to open on Tuesday, Feb. 20.
Making its appearance for the 31st offseason, the franchise tag is a one-year contract unique to the NFL that allows each team to retain a player set to become an unrestricted free agent. There are two types of tags; exclusive and non-exclusive.
The exclusive tag guarantees the higher value of either 120 percent of the player’s previous salary or the salary within the top five of their position. The non-exclusive tag allows the player to negotiate with other teams. If the player agrees to another deal, the team has the opportunity to match, and if they refuse, they are awarded two first-round picks as compensation.
Due to the significant salary that comes with the franchise tag, not every team elects to utilize the contract. Last season, only six teams used the tag on their unrestricted free agents. Out of the six, three would use the tag as security before inking the players to long-term deals.
This article will look at the franchise tag candidates for each team in the AFC West.
Las Vegas Raiders: Josh Jacobs
A down year for Jacobs makes this move justifiable after last season’s holdout.
Photo Credit: Jeff Bottari/Getty Images
At the end of the 2022 season, Josh Jacobs was widely regarded as one of the league’s best backs. Named 2022 All-Pro, Jacobs led the league with 2,053 scrimmage yards, which included 1,653 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Anticipating a major deal in the offseason, Jacobs was met with tremendous disappointment and frustration when Las Vegas used their franchise tag to retain the former 1st round pick.
Holding out for the majority of the offseason, the two sides eventually agreed upon a one-year deal worth up to $12 million just two weeks before the season started. Betting on himself to have a repeat performance, Jacobs saw his 2023 campaign falter at the hands of injuries, poor offensive line and quarterback play, and a coaching change. Failing to eclipse even half of his 2022 totals, Jacobs comes into the 2023 offseason with significantly less leverage.
At just 25 years of age, Jacobs does have the benefit of youth on his side, which makes it likely that he will gamble on himself yet again this offseason. With various holes to fill offensively, most notably at quarterback, the Raiders could benefit from having the two-time Pro Bowler on their roster for another year. According to projections by CBS Sport’s Joel Corry, running backs would receive around $11 million, a number that Jacobs should be more than happy with all things considered.
Los Angeles Chargers: Austin Ekeler
Slated to be 29 years old when the next season kicks off, a one-year deal is reasonable for both sides.
Photo Credit: David Zalubowski/ Associated Press
Ekeler finds himself in a very similar situation to that of Jacobs. The 2022 season was one of the best of his career, racking up 1,637 scrimmage yards and 18 total touchdowns. This came after a 2021 campaign that had similar success, with less than a hundred yards and two more touchdowns separating the two. Heading into the final season of his four-year, $24.5 million deal, Ekeler expressed frustration regarding his contract and desire for an extension before the 2023 season.
While some trade rumors were circulated, the former undrafted practice squad player would settle for an added $1.75 million in incentives in his contract year. In virtually the same fashion, the risk would not pay off, as like Jacobs, injuries, coaching changes, and poor offensive line play would lead to one of his worst years as a starter.
Los Angeles is one of the eleven NFL teams over the salary cap, with their $35.5 million being the fourth most. This would make the $11.3 million a significant number, especially considering Ekeler will be 29 years old at the beginning of next season. However, the tag could be used as a placeholder before the two agree to a team-friendly, multi-year deal, which is the most likely scenario.
Kansas City Chiefs: L’Jarius Sneed
Ideally just a placeholder before inking a long-term deal, a valuable piece of Spagnuolo’s defense is a priority for Kansas City.
Photo Credit: NBC Sports
Few fourth-round draft picks have panned out better than the 138th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. Since cornerback L’Jarious Sneed took over as a starter in 2021, he has been a game-changer for the Chiefs, providing lockdown coverage while also being one of the most reliable tacklers in the league at the cornerback position.
The biggest compliment one can receive as a defensive back, Sneed saw the least targets of his career, with only 81 balls coming his way. Out of those targets, two were intercepted and 42 were caught (none of which were touchdowns), numbers that made for a 45.2 passer rating allowed.
With only $15.2 million in cap space, Kansas City will have to find a way to retain both Sneed and All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones. The cheaper of the two, the Chiefs will likely tag Sneed at roughly $18.8 million, and work to sign both to long-term deals this offseason.
Denver Broncos: None
Between the horrid salary cap situation and the lack of outgoing talent, the tag won’t be needed in Denver.
Photo Credit: RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post
The first year of the Sean Payton era in Denver did not go as anticipated, to say the least. With Russel Wilson’s days numbered, this will be an important offseason for the rebuilding Broncos. This will be a difficult task for the team that is currently $24.1 million over the cap limit, the fifth most in the NFL. The franchise tag will not play a factor for Denver, who do not have a worthy unrestricted free agent out of the thirteen set to walk this offseason.
