Buffalo Bills: Breaking down options for the franchise tag

ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 8: Shaq Lawson #90 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates a tackle during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at New Era Field on December 8, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 8: Shaq Lawson #90 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates a tackle during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at New Era Field on December 8, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
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ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 8: Shaq Lawson #90 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates a tackle during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at New Era Field on December 8, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 8: Shaq Lawson #90 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates a tackle during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at New Era Field on December 8, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

The Buffalo Bills have likely three players they could consider using the franchise tag on in 2020.

The Buffalo Bills have a number of unrestricted and restricted free agents this offseason that they must try to work out deals to bring them back to Buffalo. For NFL teams that are not able to come to an agreement with free agents, they have the option to use the franchise tag, which essentially offers them a one-year deal at the average salary of the top five players at that position.

The franchise tag is not used every year by teams and they usually are used on the players that teams can’t afford to lose.

For the Buffalo Bills, there is likely three players set to be free agents that could make sense for them to use the franchise tag on. Certainly if they hope to keep them in Buffalo, a long-term deal would be more beneficial for both sides. For the Bills, it doesn’t take up as much cap space this year, while the player has some long term stability.

We will breakdown the three players that makes the most sense and what it would cost to keep them in 2020 if they were to use the franchise tag.

*All franchise tag salaries were found on Over the Cap.

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