The deadline for using the franchise tag is upon us, and it looks like two top defenders won't be tagged. The Ravens aren't planning to tag C.J. Mosley (pictured), and the Giants won't tag Landon Collins. They're among the best in the league at their positions, so it's a risky decision.
With Mosley, you're looking at one of the most consistently productive linebackers in the league. Over the last five seasons, he's one of only four players to record at least 100 tackles four or more times.
100-TACKLE LINEBACKERS, FOUR TIMES (2014-2018) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Solo | Ast | Total |
2018 | Bobby Wagner, Sea. | 84 | 54 | 138 |
2016 | Bobby Wagner, Sea. | 85 | 82 | 167 |
2015 | Bobby Wagner, Sea. | 67 | 47 | 114 |
2014 | Bobby Wagner, Sea. | 67 | 37 | 104 |
2017 | Bobby Wagner, Sea. | 97 | 36 | 133 |
2018 | C.J. Mosley, Balt. | 70 | 35 | 105 |
2017 | C.J. Mosley, Balt. | 96 | 36 | 132 |
2015 | C.J. Mosley, Balt. | 77 | 40 | 117 |
2014 | C.J. Mosley, Balt. | 89 | 44 | 133 |
2018 | Lavonte David, T.B. | 94 | 25 | 119 |
2017 | Lavonte David, T.B. | 76 | 25 | 101 |
2015 | Lavonte David, T.B. | 85 | 62 | 147 |
2014 | Lavonte David, T.B. | 101 | 45 | 146 |
2018 | Luke Kuechly, Car. | 93 | 37 | 130 |
2017 | Luke Kuechly, Car. | 74 | 51 | 125 |
2016 | Luke Kuechly, Car. | 71 | 31 | 102 |
2015 | Luke Kuechly, Car. | 76 | 42 | 118 |
2014 | Luke Kuechly, Car. | 99 | 54 | 153 |
My hunch is the Ravens will lock Mosley up with a multi-year deal before free agency opens. If he makes it to free agency, the Ravens will need to outbid possibly a couple of teams in their own division to keep him around.
With Collins, it's a little surprising the Giants aren't using the tag. Apparently they think the number is too high, and Collins has threatened to hold out if tagged. But if he leaves, the Giants will be losing one of their most productive defenders -- the most consistent defensive back in the league over the last five seasons. Collins has gone over 100 tackles three times in his four seasons, missing that total last year due to missing four games. But he's still gone over 95 in all four years. Number of other defensive backs to clear that total more than twice the last five years? Just one, Jonathan Cyprien.
95-TACKLE DEFENSIVE BACKS (2014-2018) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Solo | Ast | Tot |
2018 | Antoine Bethea, Ariz. | 99 | 21 | 120 |
2016 | Antoine Bethea, S.F. | 95 | 15 | 110 |
2015 | Barry Church, Dall. | 78 | 39 | 117 |
2014 | Barry Church, Dall. | 77 | 20 | 97 |
2018 | Budda Baker, Ariz. | 78 | 24 | 102 |
2014 | Charles Woodson, Oak. | 83 | 30 | 113 |
2015 | Corey Graham, Buff. | 96 | 31 | 127 |
2015 | Dashon Goldson, Wash. | 71 | 39 | 110 |
2014 | Dawan Landry, NYJ | 67 | 40 | 107 |
2018 | Derwin James, LAC | 75 | 30 | 105 |
2017 | Devin McCourty, N.E. | 80 | 17 | 97 |
2014 | Donte Whitner, Clev. | 69 | 37 | 106 |
2014 | Earl Thomas, Sea. | 71 | 26 | 97 |
2014 | Eric Weddle, S.D. | 91 | 23 | 114 |
2015 | Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, G.B. | 83 | 17 | 100 |
2017 | Jahleel Addae, LAC | 66 | 30 | 96 |
2018 | Jamal Adams, NYJ | 86 | 29 | 115 |
2018 | Jessie Bates, Cin. | 73 | 38 | 111 |
2018 | John Johnson, LAR | 82 | 37 | 119 |
2016 | Johnathan Cyprien, Jac. | 97 | 31 | 128 |
2015 | Johnathan Cyprien, Jac. | 78 | 30 | 108 |
2014 | Johnathan Cyprien, Jac. | 80 | 34 | 114 |
2018 | Jordan Poyer, Buff. | 73 | 27 | 100 |
2017 | Jordan Poyer, Buff. | 63 | 32 | 95 |
2018 | Justin Simmons, Den. | 71 | 26 | 97 |
2017 | Keanu Neal, Atl. | 83 | 33 | 116 |
2016 | Keanu Neal, Atl. | 72 | 34 | 106 |
2014 | Kemal Ishmael, Atl. | 67 | 30 | 97 |
2015 | Kenny Vaccaro, N.O. | 71 | 33 | 104 |
2016 | Kurt Coleman, Car. | 66 | 29 | 95 |
2018 | Landon Collins, NYG | 67 | 29 | 96 |
2017 | Landon Collins, NYG | 78 | 26 | 104 |
2016 | Landon Collins, NYG | 100 | 25 | 125 |
2015 | Landon Collins, NYG | 84 | 28 | 112 |
2018 | Malcolm Jenkins, Phil. | 79 | 18 | 97 |
2015 | Malcolm Jenkins, Phil. | 90 | 19 | 109 |
2017 | Matthias Farley, Ind. | 60 | 38 | 98 |
2015 | Michael Griffin, Tenn. | 66 | 35 | 101 |
2014 | Michael Griffin, Tenn. | 85 | 27 | 112 |
2014 | Morgan Burnett, G.B. | 94 | 36 | 130 |
2014 | Reggie Nelson, Cin. | 62 | 33 | 95 |
2017 | Reshad Jones, Mia. | 94 | 28 | 122 |
2015 | Reshad Jones, Mia. | 106 | 29 | 135 |
2014 | Robert Blanton, Minn. | 72 | 34 | 106 |
2014 | Ryan Clark, Wash. | 69 | 33 | 102 |
2014 | Ryan Mundy, Chi. | 75 | 28 | 103 |
2018 | Shawn Williams, Cin. | 81 | 29 | 110 |
2014 | T.J. McDonald, St.L. | 84 | 21 | 105 |
2016 | Tony Jefferson, Ariz. | 78 | 18 | 96 |
Both the Ravens and Giants are taking a gamble here (due to cap constraints, maybe they don't have a choice). But if they aren't able to bring these players back, some teams are going to get a really good defender in free agency.
--Andy Richardson