NFL franchise tag 2022: 10 players most likely to be tagged

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 22: Wide receiver Davante Adams #17 of the Green Bay Packers tries to avoid a tackle by free safety Jimmie Ward #1 of the San Francisco 49ers defends during the 1st quarter of the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Lambeau Field on January 22, 2022 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

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CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 05: Mike Williams #81 of the Los Angeles Chargers runs with the ball during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on December 5, 2021, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

9. NFL free agents likely to get the franchise tag – Mike Williams

Deciding what to do with a young wide receiver who has a ton of talent but not necessarily the production to match it is an extremely challenging problem. The Los Angeles Chargers will face that dilemma this year with Mike Williams, who is set to test the market this offseason.

Williams is coming off career bests in receptions (76) and yards (1,146) while adding nine touchdowns playing with ascending star Justin Herbert. The challenge comes from the fact that were games where Williams couldn’t be stopped and others where he was barely a factor in the game plan.

A good comparison for Williams may be Corey Davis, who posted a career year with Tennessee as a relatively underachieving Top 5 pick before landing a three-year deal with the New York Jets. Davis didn’t do a ton in his first year in New York, which could be a red flag for teams looking to invest in Williams.

The good news for the Chargers is that they have an abundance of cap room and can afford to tag Williams to see if he continues to ascend alongside Herbert. Williams definitely would not be a fan of getting tagged but it makes no sense to hurt a young quarterback’s development by letting one of his top weapons walk out the door.

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