Jimmy Graham's new big-money contract doesn’t end the debate surrounding tight ends and the franchise tag. Four other top young tight ends - Denver’s Julius Thomas, Cleveland’s Jordan Cameron, Miami’s Charles Clay and Minnesota’s Kyle Rudolph - are entering the final year of their deals. All of them also could be headed toward receiving the 2015 franchise designation from their teams if unable to reach long-term agreements. In turn, some of those players could file grievances like Graham did claiming they should be classified as wide receivers for franchise salary purposes (a roughly $5 million difference). Graham was unsuccessful but signed a four-year, $40 million contract Tuesday with New Orleans before his appeal was heard. Here’s a FOXSports.com 32-team forecast of which players could be 2015 franchise tag targets as well as veterans who may be getting released to help create the salary cap space needed to use the costly designation.
Reported by FOX Sports 42 minutes ago.
Jimmy Graham's new big-money contract doesn’t end the debate surrounding tight ends and the franchise tag. Four other top young tight ends - Denver’s Julius Thomas, Cleveland’s Jordan Cameron, Miami’s Charles Clay and Minnesota’s Kyle Rudolph - are entering the final year of their deals. All of them also could be headed toward receiving the 2015 franchise designation from their teams if unable to reach long-term agreements. In turn, some of those players could file grievances like Graham did claiming they should be classified as wide receivers for franchise salary purposes (a roughly $5 million difference). Graham was unsuccessful but signed a four-year, $40 million contract Tuesday with New Orleans before his appeal was heard. Here’s a FOXSports.com 32-team forecast of which players could be 2015 franchise tag targets as well as veterans who may be getting released to help create the salary cap space needed to use the costly designation.
Reported by FOX Sports 42 minutes ago.