WhoDat!656

Monday opened up the NFL's franchise tag period as team's have until March 4 to tag a player. Last season, the New Orleans Saints franchise tagged Drew Brees out of necessity with all of the intentions from both sides of hammering out a long-term contract.

The Saints have 11 unrestricted free agents as free agency approaches in mid-March: tackle Jermon Bushrod, wide receiver Devery Henderson, quarterback Chase Daniel, wide receiver Courtney Roby, tackle William Robinson, defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, linebacker Scott Shanle, linebacker Jonathan Casillas, defensive end Turk McBride, cornerback Elbert Mack and linebacker Ramon Humber.

Who, if anyone, should the Saints franchise tag? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

For a reference point, here are the non-exclusive franchise-tag salaries (via Yahoo!):

Quarterback -- $14.654 million

Running back -- $8.085 million

Wide receiver -- $10.365 million

Tight end -- $5.968 million

Offensive line -- $9.668 million

Defensive tackle -- $8.313 million

Defensive end -- $10.993 million

Linebacker -- $9.462 million

Cornerback -- $10.677 million

Safety -- $6.804 million

Punters/Kickers -- $2.928 million

Should the New Orleans Saints use the franchise tag this offseason? | NOLA.com

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

NonieT

Who are they going to use it on? The Saints don't have anyone worth using it on.

WhoDat!656

Bushrod is about the only one on the list that IMO has the slightest chance of being franchised.

jlouhill

Bushrod is the only name that jumps out at me on that list and I'm not sure I would use it on him.

jeanpierre

WhoDat656 - I'm not so sure that article is correct in lumping in offensive line; unlike the Saints, I believe Offensive Tackles earn way more than Offensive Guards, on average, in the league...

Budsdrinker

Nope. Can't afford the tag on anyone this year and no one is worthy of it.

NonieT

That is exactly right!

Jamessr

Franchise tag for kicker/punters....
Wa-what?

mutineer10

The only one bearing consideration is Bushrod, and he's probably not worth the money.

We need guys restructuring just to keep a quality team under the cap. I can't imagine we'll toss franchise money at any of those guys.

Danno

I find it humorous that the only players we have that cost more than the franchise tag are our QB, S, RG, and our Punter.

Thats just funny as sh1t. We have a friggin Punter that costs us more than the franchise tag.