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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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Browns free agent target, Yannick Ngakoue
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 16: Yannick Ngakoue #91 of the Baltimore Ravens runs on the field prior to an AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at Bills Stadium on January 16, 2021, in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images) /

4. Franchise tag candidates – Ravens EDGE Yannick Ngakoue

Baltimore used its franchise tag last season on an edge rusher to retain Matthew Judon. It might do the same this season for a different player in Ngakoue.

The Jacksonville Jaguars used the franchise tag on Ngakoue last season before trading him to Minnesota. The deal ended up flopping for the Vikings, who got off to a rough start and tried to recoup some draft capital by sending Ngakoue to Baltimore for two draft picks, including a 2021 third-rounder.

Ngakoue is a proven pass-rush specialist, racking up eight sacks between the two teams last season and a total of 45.5 over his five-year career. Pure pass-rushers don’t grow on trees so Ngakoue is a strong tag candidate for the Ravens, who will want to justify the investment they made in him with the trade.

A tag will cost Baltimore just over $15 million for Ngakoue, a savings of nearly $5 million over tagging Judon again. Expect the Ravens to tag Ngakoue as they look to move forward with him as their primary pass-rusher.

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