INDIANAPOLIS – After a three-year hiatus in using the franchise tag, will the Colts be tagging any of their nine unrestricted free agents this offseason?
Over the next two weeks, the Colts can use their franchise tag before free agency starts on March 9.
The franchise tag period began on Wednesday and runs until March 1.
Per the NFL, the tag *keeps a pending unrestricted free agent on his team for one year with a guaranteed salary that is an average of the top five highest paid players at that position or 120% of the player's previous salary, whichever is greater.*
Looking at the Colts’ nine unrestricted free agents, there are hardly any candidates that would fit the franchise tag criteria.
Erik Walden, 31, is the top NFL sacker entering free agency in 2017, but he's older than the age group that usually falls into being tagged.
Since 2012, the Colts have used the tag twice: Robert Mathis (2012) and Pat McAfee (2013).
If the Colts do not use the tag by March 1, they will have nine unrestricted free agents who will hit the open market on March 9, unless a re-signing occurs before.
Here's a look at the 2017 UFAs for the Colts:
S-Mike Adams
S/CB-Darius Butler
OLB-Chris Carter
OLB-Trent Cole
TE-Jack Doyle
OG-Hugh Thornton
RB-Jordan Todman
*RB-Robert Turbin *
OLB-Erik Walden
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