As expected, Seahawks don’t use franchise tag
Mar 2, 2015, 3:26 PM | Updated: 3:35 pm
The deadline for NFL teams to designate their franchise players came and went Monday afternoon without the Seahawks using the option, not surprising given the absence of a realistic candidate and how general manager John Schneider told reporters at the scouting combine that Seattle likely wouldn’t do so.
Cornerback Byron Maxwell heads the list of Seahawks scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. Tagging him didn’t make sense from Seattle’s standpoint given what it would have cost – $13.075 million, as it turns out – and the size of the offers he’s likely to get on the open market, which he’s now scheduled to hit once free agency begins next week.
Five players received the franchise tag before Monday’s deadline: Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, Chiefs pass rusher Justin Houston, Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and Patriots kicker Stephen Gostowski.