After Tuesday’s NFL franchise tag deadline, only a couple of teams leveraged the official tag designation. However, the deadline facilitated numerous internal transactions within the teams. We have identified five victors and five less fortunate entities from the deadline-related activities and elaborated on their implications as the window for legal free-agency negotiations approaches.
J.J. McCarthy, the Number 10 selection from the 2024 NFL Draft, is still in contention for the starting quarterback position at the Minnesota Vikings. His prospects of opening the 2025 season gained momentum on Tuesday as he prepares to return from two surgeries on a meniscal tear sustained in the training camp. The Vikings decided not to impose a $40 million franchise tag on their bridge quarterback Sam Darnold, despite his contributing to 14 victories last season.
With Darnold possibly seeking greater guaranteed sums and a multi-year extension, he is therefore expected to be in demand given the not-so-strong quarterback draft class this year. Although Darnold and the Vikings haven’t entirely ruled out a comeback, he is now a top free-agent quarterback for several teams, after Matthew Stafford agreed to a contract extension with the Los Angeles Rams. This sequence of events will draw keen interest from McCarthy.
Meanwhile, Micah Parsons and his teammate Osa Odighizuwa at the Dallas Cowboys emerged as winners from the tag deadline. The Cowboys sealed a four-year, $80 million extension with Odighizuwa, with $52 million guaranteed, thereby softening any tag deadline pressure. This agreement has benefitted Parsons in multiple ways.
Firstly, the Cowboys had intended to utilize the $25.1 million franchise tag on Odighizuwa if a deal hadn’t been reached, which would have complicated Parsons’ extension talks as it would count against the 2025 cap. Secondly, Odighizuwa’s annual salary of $20 million is below the anticipated $22-27 million, offering the Cowboys additional freedom to negotiate deals. Finally, the retention of Odighizuwa, who excels in the defensive line, aids Parsons in carrying out his defensive responsibilities.
The Chicago Bears’ recent acquisition, Head Coach Ben Johnson, had his offensive success partially attributed to a powerful offensive line, a stark contrast to the Bears’ inconsistent performance in 2024. The acquisition of guard Jonah Jackson for a sixth-round pick lends more than a talent upgrade. Jackson brings the added advantage of being familiar with Johnson’s strategy, having started 57 games at left guard for the Lions and Johnson, thus offering a potentially more seamless transition.
Williams, the quarterback for the Bears, was sacked a league-high 68 times in 2024, amounting to 466 yards, the highest in the league. With Jackson on the team and operations now more stable after the chaotic three-coordinator rookie year, resources for Williams are becoming more finely-tuned. The quarterback will need to be quicker in disposing the ball in his sophomore year, which is expected to be more promising.
Matthew Stafford staying with the Los Angeles Rams emerged as a positive outcome for several parties. Despite interest from the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders, the Rams offered Stafford a better team structure and coaching arrangement. Stafford received a pay raise and will be reuniting with the contending team, making receiver Puka Nacua, who had impressive statistics in two seasons with Stafford and the Rams, a secondary winner.
With the 49ers dealing Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders and the Bengals tagging Higgins, few options are left for teams in need of free-agent receivers. Among the options, Davante Adams stands as one of the most appealing after his release by the Jets, regardless of his age (32) compared to the younger Samuel and Higgins.
The tag deadline ended favorably for the Chiefs’ quarter back Patrick Mahomes. Although it appeared that AFC interior defensive linemen had a disadvantage due to the Chiefs using one of the league franchise tags on Smith immediately before noon, the sentiment eased when the Chiefs traded the two-time All-Pro guard Joe Thuney to the Bears. Mahome’s team still possesses formidable assets, such as tight end Travis Kelce and might have more immediate opportunities to capitalize on them.
The 49ers have shown a consistently good player development track record under the guidance of Head Coach Kyle Shanahan. The team still boasts potent assets such as receiver Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle. Thus, it may be possible to offset the gap left by Samuel’s departure to Washington without compromising the team’s strength excessively.
However, the Rams’ decision to retain Stafford has left the New York Giants and the Las Vegas Raiders in a difficult position. After engaging in talks for a possible deal with Stafford, both the teams now lack a concrete quarterback plan. Now, they must find a solution, with the third and sixth picks in the 2025 NFL Draft being potential tools.