The franchise tag has been a valuable tool in the Cowboys' bag for the past six years.
Not this time.
The period for placing the franchise tag on players begins Tuesday and ends in two weeks. The Cowboys are unlikely to use the tag during that period, a person familiar with the club's thinking said. dallas morning news.
This tag prevents players from entering the free agent market and gives the team applying the tag more time to reach a long-term contract. If no deal is reached, the veteran will play next season on that one-year deal.
Dallas tagged defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence in back-to-back seasons starting in 2018, followed by quarterback Dak Prescott the next two seasons. The Cowboys used the tag in 2022 to keep tight end Dalton Schultz off the free agent market, and they also tagged running back Tony Pollard last season.
Last season, the Cowboys were determined to part ways with Ezekiel Elliott, so holding on to Pollard was essential. The price was $10.1 million.
Better try again. Applying the tag in consecutive seasons increases costs by 20 percent, meaning the cost to keep Pollard would jump to just over $12 million.
If he returns to Dallas for a sixth season, he would need to sign a multi-year deal in 2024 that would lower his cap hit.
Pollard is one of the key starters, along with left tackle Tyron Smith, center Tyler Biadasz, cornerback Stephon Gilmore and defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins, who the Cowboys would like to stay with but are under franchise agreement. The cost of doing so is prohibitively high given the situation the organization is in regarding the salary cap. For either player to return, they will need to agree to a new contract.
Will that change? Club officials are currently involved in evaluating the Stars' personnel and have outlined their approach to free agency. Nothing has been decided at this time.
However, that possibility remains low.
It appears the Cowboys have no intention of using the franchise tag this offseason.
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