Placing the tag on a star player during contract talks means the two sides do not want to part ways just yet, but are having a hard time coming to an agreement on a deal. Two teams have decided to take that route in contract talks, including the Chicago Bears with wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.
Bears GM Ryan Pace claims that the team is attempting to negotiate a long-term deal with Jeffery, and this move gives them more time, preventing him from hitting free agency.
Chicago's top receiver dealt with numerous injuries last season, appearing in just nine games due to a calf strain suffered in the preseason, as well as a hamstring injury. He did go on to catch 54 passes for 807 yards and four touchdowns. He tied a franchise record with three consecutive 100-yard receiving games against the Lions, Vikings, and Chargers.
In his career, Jeffery is tied for fifth in franchise history with 12 100-yard receiving games in his four seasons. His best season came in 2013 when he had 89 catches for 1,421 yards, while setting his career high in touchdown catches with 10 in 2014.
The other team with decisions still to make is the Washington Redskins with quarterback Kirk Cousins, as they are said to be tagging the up and coming star, but are not yet sure if it will be a franchise or transition tag.
As the team plans to trade away Robert Griffin III following Cousins taking over the starting role last season, head coach Jay Gruden and GM Scott McCloughan both claim they want to reach a long-term deal with their new starter.
Recent reports state that the two sides are not close to an agreement, breaking off negotiations last week. Cousins was selected in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, the same year as RGIII, becoming a starter after backing up Griffin for his first three seasons.
He appeared in just 14 games those first three years, starting nine of them, throwing 18 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. After taking over this past season, he struggled early on, throwing throwing six touchdowns and eight interceptions in the first six games. The former Michigan State Spartan would finish strong over the final 10 games, throwing 23 touchdowns and just three interceptions to lead Washington to the playoffs.
That burst over the final few months of the year was enough for the Redskins to not want to let their young quarterback hit free agency. He will stick around for another year, as the franchise hopes to pay the quarterback big money to stick around for an extended period of time.
Bears GM Ryan Pace claims that the team is attempting to negotiate a long-term deal with Jeffery, and this move gives them more time, preventing him from hitting free agency.
Chicago's top receiver dealt with numerous injuries last season, appearing in just nine games due to a calf strain suffered in the preseason, as well as a hamstring injury. He did go on to catch 54 passes for 807 yards and four touchdowns. He tied a franchise record with three consecutive 100-yard receiving games against the Lions, Vikings, and Chargers.
In his career, Jeffery is tied for fifth in franchise history with 12 100-yard receiving games in his four seasons. His best season came in 2013 when he had 89 catches for 1,421 yards, while setting his career high in touchdown catches with 10 in 2014.
The other team with decisions still to make is the Washington Redskins with quarterback Kirk Cousins, as they are said to be tagging the up and coming star, but are not yet sure if it will be a franchise or transition tag.
As the team plans to trade away Robert Griffin III following Cousins taking over the starting role last season, head coach Jay Gruden and GM Scott McCloughan both claim they want to reach a long-term deal with their new starter.
Recent reports state that the two sides are not close to an agreement, breaking off negotiations last week. Cousins was selected in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, the same year as RGIII, becoming a starter after backing up Griffin for his first three seasons.
He appeared in just 14 games those first three years, starting nine of them, throwing 18 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. After taking over this past season, he struggled early on, throwing throwing six touchdowns and eight interceptions in the first six games. The former Michigan State Spartan would finish strong over the final 10 games, throwing 23 touchdowns and just three interceptions to lead Washington to the playoffs.
That burst over the final few months of the year was enough for the Redskins to not want to let their young quarterback hit free agency. He will stick around for another year, as the franchise hopes to pay the quarterback big money to stick around for an extended period of time.
