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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KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 05: Orlando Brown #57 of the Kansas City Chiefs prepares to block Jonathon Cooper #53 of the Denver Broncos during the first quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on December 5, 2021, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /

2. NFL free agents likely to receive the franchise tag – Orlando Brown

The Orlando Brown contract situation is the most important question that the Kansas City Chiefs have to solve in the offseason. After their offensive line imploded in a blowout loss in Super Bowl 55, the Chiefs remade their whole unit in one offseason with their trade for Brown being the centerpiece.

Brown was unsatisfied as Baltimore’s right tackle and wanted to go somewhere where he could play on the left side. Kansas City stepped up to the plate, dealing four draft picks in exchange for Brown and two other selections, and the move resulted in his third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance.

The Chiefs know that 25-year old left tackles who are Pro Bowlers don’t grow on trees so signing Brown is the top priority for Kansas City. Brown has the potential to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blindside for the next decade so there is little chance that the Chiefs even let Brown have the opportunity to test the open market.

The salary cap is a real concern for Kansas City, which also has to deal with Tyrann Mathieu’s free agency, but they will certainly use the tag on Brown if they can’t get a long-term deal done. The best-case scenario for the Chiefs is signing Brown before the start of free agency so they can use the franchise tag on Mathieu if they want.

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