Friday, July 15, was the deadline for NFL teams to sign players with the franchise tag to long-term deals. The teams and players that don’t get that deal done have to have the player sign and play under the franchise tag in 2016 or not play at all.
The Washington Redskins didn’t sign QB Kirk Cousins, the team’s franchise tag recipient, to a long-term deal. But there’s no cause for concern because Cousins has signed his tender. He will play for $19.9 million this year, which is smart for the Redskins as Cousins has had only one good year.
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson and Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery are also without long-term deals. Johnson will make a hair under $14 million while Jeffery makes just under $14.6 million. Both players have signed their tenders already so they will play in 2016.
The guy I thought was most likely to reach an agreement on a long-term deal is safety Eric Berry. Berry, came back from lymphoma to have a strong season in 2015, proving his courage, dedication to the Kansas City Chiefs, and that he is still a great player.
Berry’s franchise tag is set at $10.8 million but there’s no guarantee that he’ll play on it this year. He has yet to sign his tender at this point and there is no word on if he will. So Berry can still make his full salary by reporting just before the start of the regular season so don’t expect to see him in training camp.