Grading NFL Teams' Use of the 'Franchise' Tag

Dissecting the business moves leading up to free agency.

NFL Franchise Tag Period Is Over - Monday at 4 p.m. EST marked the NFL's deadline for teams to place the franchise tag on players. Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Byrant, Denver Broncos wideout Demaryius Thomas and New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul headlined the list of star players who were slapped with the franchise tag from their respective teams. We graded some of these crucial decisions for teams who used — or didn't use — the franchise tag.(Photos from left: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images, Rob Leiter/Getty Images, Elsa/Getty Images)

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NFL Franchise Tag Period Is Over - Monday at 4 p.m. EST marked the NFL's deadline for teams to place the franchise tag on players. Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Byrant, Denver Broncos wideout Demaryius Thomas and New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul headlined the list of star players who were slapped with the franchise tag from their respective teams. We graded some of these crucial decisions for teams who used — or didn't use — the franchise tag.(Photos from left: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images, Rob Leiter/Getty Images, Elsa/Getty Images)

Dallas Cowboys Use Franchise Tag on Dez Bryant Over DeMarco Murray - The danger in slapping one star player with a franchise tag is exposing the other to the open free-agency market. Thus was the case with the Dallas Cowboys, who elected to use their franchise tag on wide receiver Dez Bryant over running back DeMarco Murray. If Murray and the Cowboys can't reach a deal before March 10th, they could lose their star rusher to free agency. Both Bryant and Murray are coming off of solid 2014 seasons. The decision comes amidst reports of a possibly-damaging video of Bryant existing. Did last week's story about running back Adrian Peterson telling the Minnesota Vikings that he wants to play for the Cowboys in 2015 make Murray expendable? Possibly. Grade: B-.(Photos from left: Al Bello/Getty Images, Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

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Dallas Cowboys Use Franchise Tag on Dez Bryant Over DeMarco Murray - The danger in slapping one star player with a franchise tag is exposing the other to the open free-agency market. Thus was the case with the Dallas Cowboys, who elected to use their franchise tag on wide receiver Dez Bryant over running back DeMarco Murray. If Murray and the Cowboys can't reach a deal before March 10th, they could lose their star rusher to free agency. Both Bryant and Murray are coming off of solid 2014 seasons. The decision comes amidst reports of a possibly-damaging video of Bryant existing. Did last week's story about running back Adrian Peterson telling the Minnesota Vikings that he wants to play for the Cowboys in 2015 make Murray expendable? Possibly. Grade: B-.(Photos from left: Al Bello/Getty Images, Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

New England Patriots Use Franchise Tag on Stephen Gostkowski - New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has a penchant for manuevering in an ultra-shrewd manner under the salary cap and the Super Bowl champion's decision to slap kicker Stephen Gostkowski with the franchise tag has financial flexibility written all over it. Even if that means risking losing safety Devin McCourty to free agency. It's cheaper to keep a kicker than a star defensive back. Grade: B.(Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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New England Patriots Use Franchise Tag on Stephen Gostkowski - New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has a penchant for manuevering in an ultra-shrewd manner under the salary cap and the Super Bowl champion's decision to slap kicker Stephen Gostkowski with the franchise tag has financial flexibility written all over it. Even if that means risking losing safety Devin McCourty to free agency. It's cheaper to keep a kicker than a star defensive back. Grade: B.(Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Green Bay Packers Don't Use Franchise Tag on Randall Cobb - The Green Bay Packers had one of the best wide receiver combinations in the NFL with Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson last season. Not using the franchise tag on Cobb could mean the loss of that great one-two punch. The way we see it, star wideouts like Cobb don't grow on trees and he played the perfect complement to Nelson with 1,287 receiving yards and 12 touchdown receptions. Green Bay does have exclusive bargaining rights with Cobb until March 7th and we don't see how it could be cool letting this star walk. Grade: C. (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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Green Bay Packers Don't Use Franchise Tag on Randall Cobb - The Green Bay Packers had one of the best wide receiver combinations in the NFL with Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson last season. Not using the franchise tag on Cobb could mean the loss of that great one-two punch. The way we see it, star wideouts like Cobb don't grow on trees and he played the perfect complement to Nelson with 1,287 receiving yards and 12 touchdown receptions. Green Bay does have exclusive bargaining rights with Cobb until March 7th and we don't see how it could be cool letting this star walk. Grade: C. (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Detroit Lions Don't Use Franchise Tag on Ndamukong Suh - We're not in love with this move nor do we hate it. Most NFL experts predicted that Ndamukong Suh and the Detroit Lions would part ways before free agency started. The Lions' decision to pass on using the franchise tag on the star defensive tackle will save them plenty of cash, as the 28-year-old was set to make upwards of $25 million with the tag. Now he's in the market to become the highest paid defenisve player in NFL hstory. Grade: B.(Photo: Sarah Glenn/Getty Images)

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Detroit Lions Don't Use Franchise Tag on Ndamukong Suh - We're not in love with this move nor do we hate it. Most NFL experts predicted that Ndamukong Suh and the Detroit Lions would part ways before free agency started. The Lions' decision to pass on using the franchise tag on the star defensive tackle will save them plenty of cash, as the 28-year-old was set to make upwards of $25 million with the tag. Now he's in the market to become the highest paid defenisve player in NFL hstory. Grade: B.(Photo: Sarah Glenn/Getty Images)

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Kansas City Chiefs Use Franchise Tag on Justin Houston - Stud linebacker Justin Houston led the NFL in sacks last season with 22. At the age of 26, he's already one of the best players in the league. With the Kansas City Chiefs slapping their franchise tag on Houston, they can buy time to work on a long-term extension with him. Grade: A.

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Kansas City Chiefs Use Franchise Tag on Justin Houston - Stud linebacker Justin Houston led the NFL in sacks last season with 22. At the age of 26, he's already one of the best players in the league. With the Kansas City Chiefs slapping their franchise tag on Houston, they can buy time to work on a long-term extension with him. Grade: A.

New York Giants Use Franchise Tag on Jason Pierre-Paul - Placing the franchise tag on defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul gives the New York Giants another season to monitor him and see if he can deliver another solid year. If he does, expect the sack artist to re-up with Big Blue with some heavy cash involved. We like the move for both sides. Grade: B+.(Photo: Michael Thomas/Getty Images)

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New York Giants Use Franchise Tag on Jason Pierre-Paul - Placing the franchise tag on defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul gives the New York Giants another season to monitor him and see if he can deliver another solid year. If he does, expect the sack artist to re-up with Big Blue with some heavy cash involved. We like the move for both sides. Grade: B+.(Photo: Michael Thomas/Getty Images)

Miami Dolphins Use Transition Tag on Charles Clay - Tight end Charles Clay can negotiate a long-term contract with other teams, but the Miami Dolphins own the right to first refusal if such a deal is reached. Those are essentially the terms of the transition tag in comparison to the franchise tag. Still effective and just a different way of doing business. Grade: B.(Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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Miami Dolphins Use Transition Tag on Charles Clay - Tight end Charles Clay can negotiate a long-term contract with other teams, but the Miami Dolphins own the right to first refusal if such a deal is reached. Those are essentially the terms of the transition tag in comparison to the franchise tag. Still effective and just a different way of doing business. Grade: B.(Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Denver Broncos Use Franchise Tag on Demaryius Thomas - Placing the franchise tag on Demaryius Thomas has its repercussions for the Denver Broncos. In doing so, the Broncos risk losing tight end Julius Thomas, who actually had one more touchdown receptions than Demaryius, Denver's top wideout. If the Broncos had to pick one Thomas to franchise, we think they got the right one. Grade: B+.  (Photo: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

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Denver Broncos Use Franchise Tag on Demaryius Thomas - Placing the franchise tag on Demaryius Thomas has its repercussions for the Denver Broncos. In doing so, the Broncos risk losing tight end Julius Thomas, who actually had one more touchdown receptions than Demaryius, Denver's top wideout. If the Broncos had to pick one Thomas to franchise, we think they got the right one. Grade: B+.  (Photo: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)