Financial Futures for the 9 Tagged NFL Players

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertMarch 06, 2024
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#tee higgins #michael pittman jr. #justin madubuike #brian burns #josh allen #l'jarius sneed #jaylon johnson #antoine winfield jr. #kyle dugger
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Nine players were handed a tag ahead of the 2024 league year, including 1 (rare) transition tender. Spotrac details each player’s current offer, potential future outcome, & projected long-term extension. As a reminder, teams now have until July 15th to come to terms on a multi-year extension with these players. If no deal is completed, the player must play on a 1 year contract for the 2024 season (though not necessarily at the value of the tag).

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NFL Franchise Tag Tracker
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Tee Higgins (WR, Bengals)

2024 Tag: $21,816,000
The Bengals now have Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase on the books at $31.6M of combined cap in 2024. An extension for Chase likely increases his ($9.8M) cap figure. An extension for Higgins most certainly lowers his tag hit in 2024. Are either likely in the coming months? Spotrac projects big numbers for both.

Michael Pittman Jr. (WR, Colts)

2024 Tag: $21,816,000
Pittman’s tag immediately becomes the 3rd highest cap hit on an up and coming Colts roster. Indy still rolls toward the league year with around $53M of Top 51 cap space - even after accounting for this franchise tender. Spotrac projects a 4 year, $100M extension for the 26-year-old this summer.

Justin Madubuike (DT, Ravens)

2024 Tag: $22,102,000
Talk about peaking at the right time. Madubuike entered 2023 with 8.5 sacks combined over his first three seasons. He posted 13 sacks, 15 tackles, and 2 forced fumbles last year, setting himself up for a top of the market interior defender contract. Mathematically speaking, that looks like a 4 year, $82M deal in our system right now.

Brian Burns (OLB, Panthers)

2024 Tag: $24,007,000
Burns’ $24M tag represents the 2nd highest cap hit on Carolina’s books right now (Taylor Moton, $29.7M). Burns is the type of player you’d love to build a defense around, but are they starting the entire process over again? He’s a 4 year, $88M player in our system, but that might be another team’s contract to sign if a tag+trade is in the works.

Josh Allen (OLB, Jaguars)

2024 Tag: $24,007,000
The Jags are in for another major facelift on the defensive side of the ball, but keeping Allen as the centerpiece appears to be in their plans as well. Mathematically speaking, the #7 overall pick is a $24M per year player (aligning with the tag value), but it stands to reason that a deal in the $27M per year range makes sense. 5 years, $135M ($95M guaranteed).

L'Jarius Sneed (CB, Chiefs)

2024 Tag: $19,802,000
The Chiefs haven’t been shy about where this is likely headed. Sneed was always destined for the tag this winter, and will now explore trade options in an effort to give KC the best possible outcome in losing such a valuable player. Trade buyer beware though, because he’ll be requiring a top of the market CB contract upon arrival. Something in the 5 year, $95M ($65M guaranteed) range sounds about right.

Jaylon Johnson (CB, Bears)

2024 Tag: $19,802,000
It seems as though Johnson & the Bears have been close in their discussions, but offers in the $15M-$16M per year range likely need to inflate into the $18M+ conversations with the tag number where it is. The Bears are trying to build a winner quickly. Keeping a talented CB1 in the fold, and happy, seems a priority here. 5 years, $90M ($60M guaranteed).

Antoine Winfield Jr. (S, Buccaneers)

2024 Tag: $17,123,000
Winfield Jr. can do everything, and should be paid accordingly. This is one of those scenarios where the tag represents “value” versus where the player deserves to be paid on an annual basis. 4 years, $80M ($48M guaranteed)

Kyle Dugger (S, Patriots)

2024 Tag: $13,815,000
New England opted for the transition tag with Dugger, a value that aligns with the reportedly multi-year offers they made to him in recent weeks. For reference, the transition tag is a lower-priced tag, and it offers no draft compensation in return should the player sign an offer sheet and leave this offseason. The Pats are betting on that not happening. A really nice list of safeties available on the open market probably means they’ll be right. If he opts for a long-term deal in New England, 4 years, $60M ($42M guaranteed) could get it done.


#tee higgins #michael pittman jr. #justin madubuike #brian burns #josh allen #l'jarius sneed #jaylon johnson #antoine winfield jr. #kyle dugger
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