Post by whoskmoon on Feb 25, 2024 18:24:20 GMT -6
March 5th is fast approaching and for many teams, this means them having to make a decision on whether or not to franchise tag high value UFAs. After that date, the window to franchise tag players closes, and the odds of big named players not returning to their former increase significantly, to the point where we can actually start making offseason plans with players who will really be free agents. Big name free agents just aren't allowed to hit free agency if teams have those players in their plans, so this make sense. It is really, really stupid to allow a big name player you want to remain on the team to talk to other teams as this typically only drives their price up. Really stupid, like pure incompetence from the GM stupid.
Speaking of incompetency, the Vikings have two players in the top 10 of free agents who they cannot franchise tag making their entry into free agency very likely. How likely you say? Let's take a look at big name free agents the past few years and see how often teams either franchise players, re-sign them or let that player go to another team.
Walter football's Top 20 Free Agents
2023
Franchise Tagged: 6
Re-Signed: 4 (2 Cs, 2 CBs)
Walked: 9
Retired: 1
The Eagles brought back Kelce a year after he was on the verge of retirement in 2022, they also brought back James Bradbury.
2022
Franchise Tagged: 3
Re-Signed: 4 (1 DT, 1 C, 1 S, 1 WR)
Walked: 12
Didn't Play in 2022: 1
The Eagles brought back an aging Kelce again on the verge of retirement and Baltimore brought back an aging Campbell nearing the end of his career. Mike Williams also returned to his team having the best season by far in his contract year.
2021
Franchise Tagged: 5
Re-Signed: 8 (1 S, 1 RB, 1 WR, 1 LB, 1 DE/DT, 1 C, 1 DE, 1 QB)
Walked: 7
This offseason had the most players returning to their teams by far. This is also the closest we have seen to a Hunter or Cousins situation where the players returned to their team with Dak Prescott going back to Dallas, and Shaq Barrett and Leonard Williams going back to their teams. However, the franchise tag was in play for all three of these players (less so for Barrett who already had been franchised), so there was always that option for those teams.
2020
Franchise Tagged: 6
Re-Signed: 4 (1 QB, 2 S, 1 WR)
Walked: 9
Retired: 1
The biggest re-signings here were Drew Brees, Safety Jimmy Ward and WR Amary Cooper. Brees was year-to-year at this point because of his age(41) so not really in a similar situation to Cousins.
2019
Franchise Tagged: 5
Re-Signed: 2 (1 CB, 1 OLB)
Walked: 13
The biggest and only re-signings this season were KJ Wright and Ronald Darby.
Looking back the only real parallels to the Hunter or Cousins happened in 2021, but as mentioned before, the franchise tag was in play for those free agents and the team always had that option if contract discussions weren't going well. Prescott signed his deal on March 8th, same as Daniel Jones a couple of years later. A date to keep in mind as we watch for what the Vikings do with Cousins. Barrett actually waited until free agency before coming back, and I don't think Hunter will sign anything until free agency as well.
Overall though, teams just don't let players who they want back walk, unless the player themselves don't want to come back. Lower value positions like safety and center might be allowed to explore free agency and be brought back, aging players who have a great year also tend to get brought back as teams avoid longer contracts. Not really the situation we have in MN and fans have to wonder if this is Kwesi doing things his own way once again.
Speaking of incompetency, the Vikings have two players in the top 10 of free agents who they cannot franchise tag making their entry into free agency very likely. How likely you say? Let's take a look at big name free agents the past few years and see how often teams either franchise players, re-sign them or let that player go to another team.
Walter football's Top 20 Free Agents
2023
Franchise Tagged: 6
Re-Signed: 4 (2 Cs, 2 CBs)
Walked: 9
Retired: 1
The Eagles brought back Kelce a year after he was on the verge of retirement in 2022, they also brought back James Bradbury.
2022
Franchise Tagged: 3
Re-Signed: 4 (1 DT, 1 C, 1 S, 1 WR)
Walked: 12
Didn't Play in 2022: 1
The Eagles brought back an aging Kelce again on the verge of retirement and Baltimore brought back an aging Campbell nearing the end of his career. Mike Williams also returned to his team having the best season by far in his contract year.
2021
Franchise Tagged: 5
Re-Signed: 8 (1 S, 1 RB, 1 WR, 1 LB, 1 DE/DT, 1 C, 1 DE, 1 QB)
Walked: 7
This offseason had the most players returning to their teams by far. This is also the closest we have seen to a Hunter or Cousins situation where the players returned to their team with Dak Prescott going back to Dallas, and Shaq Barrett and Leonard Williams going back to their teams. However, the franchise tag was in play for all three of these players (less so for Barrett who already had been franchised), so there was always that option for those teams.
2020
Franchise Tagged: 6
Re-Signed: 4 (1 QB, 2 S, 1 WR)
Walked: 9
Retired: 1
The biggest re-signings here were Drew Brees, Safety Jimmy Ward and WR Amary Cooper. Brees was year-to-year at this point because of his age(41) so not really in a similar situation to Cousins.
2019
Franchise Tagged: 5
Re-Signed: 2 (1 CB, 1 OLB)
Walked: 13
The biggest and only re-signings this season were KJ Wright and Ronald Darby.
Looking back the only real parallels to the Hunter or Cousins happened in 2021, but as mentioned before, the franchise tag was in play for those free agents and the team always had that option if contract discussions weren't going well. Prescott signed his deal on March 8th, same as Daniel Jones a couple of years later. A date to keep in mind as we watch for what the Vikings do with Cousins. Barrett actually waited until free agency before coming back, and I don't think Hunter will sign anything until free agency as well.
Overall though, teams just don't let players who they want back walk, unless the player themselves don't want to come back. Lower value positions like safety and center might be allowed to explore free agency and be brought back, aging players who have a great year also tend to get brought back as teams avoid longer contracts. Not really the situation we have in MN and fans have to wonder if this is Kwesi doing things his own way once again.
... and neither is this Chris guy.