Rams have used the franchise tag eight times since 1998
Cameron DaSilva
[
theramswire.usatoday.com]
To tag, or not to tag? That’s the big question facing the Rams and numerous other teams as they have until March 6 to decide whether they want to use the franchise tag on one of their pending free agents.
For the Rams, it’ll come down to Sammy Watkins and Lamarcus Joyner with both being prime candidates. Los Angeles hasn’t been shy about using the tag in its history, either.
Since the tag was introduced in 1993, the Rams have used it a total of eight times – all of which coming since 1998. On two separate occasions, they’ve used it in consecutive years, most recently in 2016 and 2017 with Trumaine Johnson.
Here are the other six instances they’ve used the tag dating back nearly 25 years.
Safety O.J. Atogwe: 2009
LT Orlando Pace: 2003-05
DE Kevin Carter: 2000
CB Ryan McNeil: 1998
As you can see, the Rams tagged Hall of Fame tackle Orlando Pace three years in a row. It worked in their favor because he was an All-Pro in 2003 and a Pro Bowler all three years. Ultimately, he would sign a long-term extension to remain with the Rams for the rest of his career, but the franchise tag prevented him from leaving.
As for the other three players, the Rams didn’t have as much luck. Atogwe went from picking off 13 passes the two years prior to recording just two interceptions in 2009 under the tag, missing four games. He did bounce back in 2010, but that was just one year into a five-year extension – a deal he’d only play two seasons under.
Carter led the league with 17 sacks in 1999 and was a first-team All-Pro, but while playing under the tag, he had just 10.5 and failed to make even the Pro Bowl. One year later, he left to sign with the Titans.
In 1997, McNeil led the NFL with nine interceptions, bursting onto the scene in his first year with the Rams. Under the franchise tag in 1998, McNeil had only one interception and didn’t look like nearly the same playmaker.
The franchise tag is hardly the best financial decision for the team or player, but the Rams have used it to retain players for one more season. Unfortunately, only two of the six players to be tagged by the team so far have gone on to sign long-term extensions.
Can Trumaine Johnson make it three? We’ll have to wait and see.
