6 rings and football things: Exploring potential franchise tag & draft options for the Patriots
The NFL’s franchise tag window will officially open on Tuesday, February 20th at 4:00 p.m. EST., allowing teams to essentially dub one of their upcoming unrestricted free agents as a “franchise player”. Placing the tag on a player binds them to the team for one more season on a one-year, fully guaranteed contract based on the average of the top-five salaries at the position.
The Patriots, under the guidance of head coach Jerod Mayo and de facto general manager Eliot Wolf, have 24 pending free agents that they’ll need to make decision on heading into the 2024 season.
Here’s the case for three of them that are deserving of New England’s franchise tag:
S Kyle Dugger
Dugger, 27, is an obvious candidate for the tag given his success with the team over the last four seasons.
After being selected out of Lenoir-Rhyne in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Dugger has shined in the backend of New England’s defense. He’s tallied 343 total tackles, has intercepted nine passes, and led the NFL with three defensive touchdowns in 2022.
Dugger isn’t a star in pass coverage, by any means, but his play as a box safety/hybrid linebacker warrants a pay-day. Hopefully tagging him gives New England an opportunity to get a long-term deal done.
Dugger is listed as PFF’s 20th ranked free agent. The tag number for safeties in 2024 is projected to be $16,224,000.
OT Mike Onwenu
Offensive lineman Mike Onwenu is expected to be one of, if not the, the top available offensive lineman in free agency.
His future in New England has been reported on multiple times since the end of the 2023 season – and from multiple angles. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler New England, “essentially know[s] Onwenu’s not coming back,” while according to NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry, “one team source indicated that there is a real affinity for Onwenu's game in the building and that they'd like to have him back in Foxboro for 2024 and beyond.”
Fishy.
Onwenu has been a godsend for the Patriots since being selected in the sixth round of the 2020 draft, starting 56 games at both tackle and guard over his first four seasons in the NFL (including all 16 at tackle as a rookie).
He also, per AtoZ Sports' Sophie Weller, is open to returning to Foxborough:
"It's really where I built myself, turning into the person that I am," Onwenu said. "They took the opportunity on me, drafting me in the sixth round. So I always like to, not necessarily prove doubters wrong, but I like to prove myself right. I always like to put my best foot forward and just prove that I’m supposed to be here and I am here."
Onwenu is listed as PFF’s 25th best available free agent. His tag number for offensive lineman in 2024 is projected to be $19,885,000.
TE Hunter Henry
The Patriots don’t have any tight ends under contract heading into 2024, making the retention of Hunter Henry to the room that much more crucial.
Henry’s importance to New England is not only important on the field, where he tallied a team high six touchdowns last season, but also off the field. The tight end was named a team captain last season and when speaking about the Patriots’ leadership on the offensive side of the ball with WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show last month, head coach Jerod Mayo mentioned Henry among the bunch despite his pending free agency.
Henry is listed as PFF’s 46th best available free agent. The tag number for tight ends in 2024 is projected to be $12,027,000.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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