(05-02-2018, 07:53 PM)Jags02 Wrote:

(05-02-2018, 06:36 PM)FBT Wrote: Worst case scenario, he has a good year and continues to ascend.  The team can use the franchise tag on him if a long term deal can't be reached.  It was going to cost them $14 million if they picked up the option. The tag for 2018 is $14.2 million.  It shouldn't jump dramatically next year, so it's an option.  Basically, Fowler is on a one year prove it deal.

I fell for the same thing at first. Look at the article again. The actual tag number for a DE is in the earlier page numbers... it's like $17.2 mil. The $14.2 number is the transition tag amount.

I'd guess next year's franchise tag number will be something like $17.5 mil. 

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(05-02-2018, 07:10 PM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote: We lack a run stuffer with this lineup.

I'm guessing next year's DL looks like...

Yannick, Bryan, Dareus, Campbell

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Can Fowler play the SAM spot?

Even at $17.5, that's not completely unreasonable if he's continuing to improve and have an impact.  My guess is that should he prove himself, he'll get an extension and it won't come down to a tag of any sort.  From what they're saying, Fowler has finally started to show the kind of focus they expect, thanks to Calais Campbell's leadership.  We may only be scratching the surface of what he can do for this team if that's the case.

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