Franchise Tag Designations Due by 4:00pm Today

Today is the day that NFL teams must submit the names of players they wish to place the franchise tag designation on. The Giants rarely use the tag (only three times in 20 years) and it doesn’t appear they will be using it this year. In fact, CEO John Mara told reporters the team would “probably not” tag any of the team’s impending free agents. 

A few weeks back, Paul Schwartz of The Post speculated if the Giants are to use the tag, the remaining candidates are few, if any:

The Giants could use the franchise tag on tight end Martellus Bennett, even though it would be costly ($5.9 million). If Bennett is not re-signed there’s no one on the roster capable of duplicating his production (55 receptions, five touchdowns). It is unlikely the tag would be used on safety Kenny Phillips (at $6.79 million) or kicker Lawrence Tynes ($2.9 million) although it could be applied as a way to extend the negotiation process without fear of seeing the player sign elsewhere.

John Fennelly, Executive Editor

Kenny Phillips at $6.7 mil? I’ll pass, thank you. Nice guy, but he’s a ghost. Injuries have kept him from fulfilling the promise he brought with him as a rookie and it looks as if that will be the epitaph on his career when it’s over.

Paul is right about Bennett, the Giants don’t have a proven entity to replace him with. Adrien Robinson should be better this season, but who knows? GM Jerry Reese would be correct to roll the dice on Bennett in free agency because if he loses, there’s two NFL-ready TEs he could choose from in the NFL Draft: Zach Ertz and Tyler Eifert.

Tynes has been steady, but the Giants may feel they have already gotten the best out of him. I’m sure the team would like him back, but the price has to be a reasonable one. $2.9 may be a little over what they want to spend.