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

7. Franchise tag candidates – Lions WR Kenny Golladay

In a year where there are a ton of great wide receivers set to hit the market, it wouldn’t be shocking to see a few of them in the mix for a franchise tag. One of the more interesting cases is for Golladay, who is coming off an injury-plagued 2020 season.

Golladay appeared in just five games in 2020 but produced big numbers in each of the previous two years. That kind of performance combined with the fact that Golladay is just 27 years old should add up to a monster contract on the open market.

There is a bit of uncertainty in terms of how the Lions view Golladay in their long-term plans after dealing Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Goff and a pair of first-round picks. Having Golladay around would give Goff a go-to-guy to help Detroit compete now in a weak NFC North but Golladay will likely want a better shot at winning after going through four playoff-less years in the motor city.

The Lions could look to execute some leverage here by tagging Golladay with the intention of trading him for draft capital. Snagging another high draft pick for Golladay would be a key tool as Detroit looks to continue its rebuilding project.