Fansided

NFL franchise tag 2021: 10 players most likely to be tagged

By Mike Phillips

TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 07: Shaquil Barrett #58 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 07: Shaquil Barrett #58 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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Panthers offseason rumors, Taylor Moton
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 03: Taylor Moton #72 of the Carolina Panthers before their game against the Tennessee Titans at Bank of America Stadium on November 03, 2019, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

8. Franchise tag candidates – Panthers OT Taylor Moton

If a good offensive tackle is set to enter free agency there is a strong chance he will be hit with the franchise tag. Trent Williams will be a notable exception this year after he negotiated a no-tag provision into his contract following a trade to the 49ers but Taylor Moton won’t be so lucky.

A second-round pick in 2017, Moton has quickly become one of the NFL’s best right tackles. Carolina is aware of Moton’s value and saw what happened when another top right tackle hit the market last spring when Jack Conklin received a $42 million contract from the Cleveland Browns.

For a team that is in the middle of a rebuild, it doesn’t make a ton of sense to let a highly productive 26-year old right tackle reach the open market. The Panthers will surely attempt to work out a long-term deal with Moton with the franchise tag being a failsafe option.

Moton would get a nice chunk of change on the tag, pocketing about $14.5 million for 2021. Carolina fans can rest assured that there is no way that Moton will be going anywhere next season.

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