Buffalo Bills Eye Franchise Tag for High-Priced Free Agent

The Buffalo Bills are considering a significant move regarding their offensive guard, David Edwards, as the franchise tag period approaches. The Bills have not utilized the franchise tag since 2017, during Brandon Beane’s tenure as general manager. However, Edwards, a valuable asset on the offensive line, could be a candidate for this tag before he becomes a free agent on March 11.

Understanding the Franchise Tag

The franchise tag is a tool that NFL teams can use to secure a player under a one-year contract. There are three types of franchise tags:

• Exclusive Tag: This tag keeps the player with the team, preventing him from negotiating with other teams.
• Non-Exclusive Tag: Allows the player to seek offers from other teams, but the original team has the right to match any offer and can receive two first-round draft picks if the player signs elsewhere.
• Transition Tag: Similar to the non-exclusive tag but does not provide draft-pick compensation if the player leaves.

Financial Implications

If the Bills opt to franchise tag Edwards, they would need to allocate around $27 million, the estimated cost for offensive linemen under this tag. This amount surpasses Edwards’ projected market value of $19.9 million, as reported by Spotrac. Currently, the Bills are about $10 million over the salary cap, making this a challenging decision.

Edwards’ Performance and Impact

David Edwards joined the Buffalo Bills in 2023 and has quickly proven to be a critical player. Over his seven-year career, he has only missed one regular-season game. In the 2023 season, he played all 17 games, achieving a pass-blocking efficiency rating of 97.2%, according to Pro Football Focus. This level of performance highlights the importance of solidifying the offensive line, especially considering potential departures, such as center Connor McGovern due to free agency.

In summary, as the Buffalo Bills weigh the potential use of the franchise tag on David Edwards, they face significant financial considerations. The decision to tag him could reinforce their offensive line, a key strength for the team in recent seasons. However, the implications on their salary cap position present a challenging dilemma for the franchise moving forward.