Will the Patriots use the franchise tag this year?

[ctpatsfan77]

Simple question: they've got about 22 hours left to apply it.

 

[Wheelman]

Yes.

 

[SBLIII]

I have a weird feeling that they will.

 

[HailHydra]

No.

 

[supafly]

Gost seems to be the only real option.

 

[kennyb]

Tag and trade flowers.

 

[VectorPrime]

Doubt it.

 

[maust]

Ray Lewis tagged a guy (probably two)

 

[Huckleberry1]

Yes

They won’t let Flowers go to Miami.

 

[Hyped]

Nope.

I think we strike a deal with Ghost before the 13th.

 

[mgteich]

I don't see why that's relevant.

Do you think that the team should avoid putting a tag on Gost because they believe that deal will be signed by the 13th?

Even if I were 80% sure of signing a deal with Gost next week, I'd still franchise him. It is a matter of insurance.

Nope.

I think we strike a deal with Ghost before the 13th.

 

[Love The Drake]

Chicago would be all over Gost if he sniffs free agency

 

[patfanken]

I wonder why we aren't asking the question, SHOULD the Pats franchise Flowers. I think they should.

With the Franchising of 4 pass rushers, Flowers, who was a top 10 FA to begin with, jumps to virtually the top defensive FA available. Overpaying at that point is almost expected and we will have no chance to keep him. If we franchise him, even for a week, the market might cool down and a reasonable deal could be worked out.

That being said, it is more likely that the Pats have already decided to let him test the market (as they do for most of their top FA's) and hope for the best.

Bottom line: IMHO, if Flowers hits FA he will be gone.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I think they tag Gost.

 

[mgteich]

Almost everyone here has thought for weeks (months?) that the only way to keep Flowers would be to franchise him and use $17.1M of the 2019 cap on him.

Personally, I don't think that it would be a good idea.

Maybe it's just me, but I think that we need to pay 3 WR's, a NT, 2 CB's, an OT, a K, a P, and hopefully Simon. Using $17.7M is just not the way to start.

The great thing is that we'll know soon.

I wonder why we aren't asking the question, SHOULD the Pats franchise Flowers. I think they should.

With the Franchising of 4 pass rushers, Flowers, who was a top 10 FA to begin with, jumps to virtually the top defensive FA available. Overpaying at that point is almost expected and we will have no chance to keep him. If we franchise him, even for a week, the market might cool down and a reasonable deal could be worked out.

That being said, it is more likely that the Pats have already decided to let him test the market (as they do for most of their top FA's) and hope for the best.

Bottom line: IMHO, if Flowers hits FA he will be gone.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I wonder why we aren't asking the question, SHOULD the Pats franchise Flowers. I think they should.

With the Franchising of 4 pass rushers, Flowers, who was a top 10 FA to begin with, jumps to virtually the top defensive FA available. Overpaying at that point is almost expected and we will have no chance to keep him. If we franchise him, even for a week, the market might cool down and a reasonable deal could be worked out.

That being said, it is more likely that the Pats have already decided to let him test the market (as they do for most of their top FA's) and hope for the best.

Bottom line: IMHO, if Flowers hits FA he will be gone.

I agree, Flowers has gone to the head of the class, but I don’t think they have to go nuts at the top end, I think they have to match the guarantee. They may now have to match 45-50 million, but that’s really betting on 3 seasons, which imo is a good bet. That said I would look at the possibility that both the Fish and the JETES could go big after him, and as much as I wouldn't want to do it to Flowers I would tag him.

Gostkowski can be signed to a long term deal with good guaranteed $, and the guaranteed $ should make that easy to get done,

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think they tag Gost.

I don’t, kickers last so I would give him the good guaranteed $$, and make the deal longer.

 

[mgteich]

I don’t, kickers last so I would give him the good guaranteed $$, and make the deal longer.

I would note that Vinatieri was franchised twice by the patriots.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I would note that Vinatieri was franchised twice by the patriots.

Yep, but times have changed and it’s clear Gostkowski has years to go with his leg. Guaranteed money is what really matters, and they can do that.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I would note that Vinatieri was franchised twice by the patriots.

I’m coming at it from he point of view that they need the tag for Flowers, although I hope I am wrong