NFL Offseason - Imagine that you are Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta or Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim and you need to make a decision about the future of Lamar Jackson or Kyler Murray.
You could immediately sign your young quarterback to the latest version of the Standard Rich and Famous contract: something similar in size and shape to the five-year, $230-million, fully guaranteed deal that Deshaun Watson signed with the Cleveland Browns. Or, you could:
- Wait for Jackson to play out the fifth-year option on his rookie contract in 2022 and Murray to do so in 2023;
- Franchise tag them if you are happy with their performances;
- Franchise tag them again the next year if still completely satisfied;
- Franchise tag them for a third consecutive year if still uncertain about their futures for any reason; and then
- Worry about what happens in 2026 or 2027 when the future arrives.