It's that time of the year again -- when NFL teams get to retain star players on one-year, high-priced contracts through a convoluted mechanism known as the franchise tag.
Through this process, players who would otherwise become free agents are bound to their teams for one year, at a rate that pays them the average salary of the five top-paid players at their position.
For many players, it's not an ideal situation, despite the sweet pay check, because at any time they could be a play away from a career-threatening injury with no long-term security. For some teams, it's an expensive but attractive option given the hesitation to dole out multiyear deals because of the league's tough salary cap.
The deadline for teams to tag their players was set for Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, with the 2021 cap year officially set to begin on March 17. If a player is tagged, the sides then have until July 15 to work out a potential long-term extension.
Here's a look at who has been tagged so far:
Justin Simmons, Safety, Denver Broncos
Simmons is being tagged for the second consecutive year. He's projected to be paid somewhere around $13.7M under the tag, according to ESPN.
Marcus Maye, Safety, New York Jets
The Jets are reportedly tagging Maye amid an apparent roadblock in extension talks, which his agent aired publicly last week. It doesn't bode well for Maye's long-term prospects in New York, but in the meantime he should make north of $10M in 2021.
Brandon Scherff, Guard, Washington Football Team
Like Simmons, Scherff was tagged for the second consecutive offseason. In exchange for keeping the 29-year-old out of free agency, Washington will have to pay him around $18M next season.
Leonard Williams, Defensive lineman, New York Giants
In a surprise twist, Williams has reversed his early-career disappointments after making the jump to Big Blue, setting himself up for a second consecutive franchise tag. The Giants will reportedly keep him in the fold to the tune of around $19M in 2021.
Chris Godwin, Wide receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Godwin is in line for a hefty raise, with the Bucs reportedly informing him of their intent to use the tag. Injuries limited the Penn State product to 12 games last season, but he's still among the game's best when healthy, and the Bucs are wise to lock in another key target for Tom Brady in the passing game.
Taylor Moton, Offensive tackle, Carolina Panthers
Moton has moved around Carolina's offensive line in recent seasons, serving as something of a utility man while subbing for injured or ineffective starters. With both of the team's starting tackles expected to leave in free agency, the Panthers reportedly moved to keep Moton aboard at a price tag of around $14M, a relative bargain compared to what offensive tackles can command on the open market.
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