Teams Can Now Use The Franchise Tag, An Important Detail for the Vikings
As I recently discussed, there’s next to no chance the Vikings use the franchise tag.
For this reason, several purple fans will probably shrug at the news that NFL teams can use their tags today (don’t forget about that transition tag). Let me suggest, though, that purple fans ought to be keeping an eye on the NFL’s tags.
As we all know, the roster is not without merit, and yet we also know that they need an infusion of talent. Last season, the team only had one elite player: Justin Jefferson. The hope is that Brian O’Neill, Eric Kendricks, Harrison Smith, and Danielle Hunter can be elite in 2022. Nevertheless, the team needs to acquire more high-end players.
One avenue, of course, is free agency.
Yesterday, I offered some bold purple predictions. One of them was that the team would make a move for a true #1 corner. J.C. Jackson and Carlton Davis inevitably show up on all the free agency rankings as the two best corners. What happens if they get tagged? Well, the most obvious ramification is that Minnesota won’t have a shot at one of this year’s most talented FAs.
Another important consequence is that the other corners get a touch more valuable. It’s a supply and demand situation. There is a huge demand for competent corners. The supply is often the issue. Now, that’s not meant to be a criticism of the league’s CBs. Rather, it’s an acknowledgment that pass coverage is supremely important and that the rules are such that corners are in a really difficult situation. Finding players who can still thrive in the current NFL is therefore of great importance.
It’s possible that the Vikings won’t be able to get that true #1 corner, perhaps because of the franchise tag. If that occurs, one wonders if the best strategy is to ensure they have several strong CB2s. A corner collection that has 3 or 4 good players can be effective, especially when partnered with a safety of Smith’s abilities.
Expect defense to be a top priority as the team heads in the official offseason. Hopefully, the franchise tag doesn’t create too many issues.
Teams have until March 8 to use their tags.
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