The Minnesota Vikings have let quarterback Sam Darnold hit the open market, clearing the way for him to sign with another team. Only two players received franchise tags before the deadline on Tuesday.
Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa is one of the tagged players, signing a four-year contract worth $80 million with $58 million guaranteed. The tag would have been worth $25.1 million had he signed with his current team.
Odighizuwa’s decision comes after a breakout season in which he recorded 4.5 sacks and 47 tackles. He is expected to provide better protection for quarterback Dak Prescott.
Sam Darnold, who was drafted third overall by the New York Jets in 2018, also became available on the market. The Vikings declined to give him the franchise tag, citing his breakthrough season with 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns. Darnold will now become a free agent next week, joining top players like Chris Godwin, Jevon Holland, Milton Williams, Zack Baun, and Josh Sweat.
Other notable tagged players include Cincinnati receiver Tee Higgins and Kansas City guard Trey Smith, who both received tags worth $26.2 million and $23.4 million respectively. The decline in franchise tag recipients marks a significant downturn from the previous seasons.
The Cowboys’ decision to lock up Odighizuwa comes as no surprise, given his performance on the field. Teams have until July 15 to sign players on their franchise tags or risk losing them to free agency next season.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/nfl-franchise-tag-darnold-11bc6043a93a8b5dedae780004d64a65