The other three didn’t have quite the seasons they wanted … and one player’s year couldn’t have gone much worse. Here is how the 2014 tagged players fared last season, and what grade they earned.
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Franchise tags
Greg Hardy, DE, Panthers
His days of earning $13.1 million for a season, his franchise tag figure, are probably over. His days as a Panther are officially running out. He played one game before going onto the commissioner’s exempt list in the wake of not only his domestic-violence case, but of Adrian Peterson’s charge, as well. Hardy’s charges being dropped last month likely won’t save him from NFL discipline. Some team will sign him; he turns 27 this summer and is a premier pass rusher. But teams will have to weigh his baggage, and no one will shell out much for him. The Hardy tag ended up being the worst-case scenario for team and player. Grade: F
Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints
After all the drama over what position classification he should have, he signed a four-year deal for $20.9 million guaranteed. His base salary jumps up this season and his cap hit nearly triples. While playing through frequent injuries, his yardage and touchdowns slipped, and the Saints stumbled through a letdown of a season. Locking Graham in is still the smartest move the Saints could make, and having the conflicts of last offseason behind them has to be a relief. Grade: B
Brian Orakpo, LB, Redskins
Orakpo experienced the ultimate nightmare of a tagged player (excluding Hardy’s, of course): a serious injury. Orakpo missed the last nine games with a torn pectoral muscle. For his $11.45 million tag number, Washington got one half-sack and a 2-5 record. The pass-rusher turns 29 this summer, and his future there is in doubt. Previous pec injuries factored into his not getting a long-term deal before being tagged. Grade: D
Nick Folk, K, Jets
He signed a four-year deal with $2.1 million guaranteed two weeks after being franchised and just as free-agency opened. Folk had another solid season for a terrible team. He wasn’t immune to the Jets curse: his only two misses between 40 and 49 yards all season came in the same game, in December when they lost to the Dolphins, 16-13. Grade: B
Transition tags
Jason Worilds, LB, Steelers
Worilds, who turns 27 this week, played for the $9.754 million transition tag last season, and had a strong all-around season featuring 7-1/2 sacks for the AFC North champions. But they never came close on a contract, and the Steelers will let him test free agency next week and hope for the best. He’ll get a lot of interest, though. Grade: A
Alex Mack, C, Browns
The Browns, who had tagged Mack at $10 million after a Pro Bowl season, matched an offer sheet from the Jaguars and signed him for five years and $26 million guaranteed. They started out 3-2, were in the thick of the playoff race and were getting praise for squeezing production out of the Brian Hoyer-led offense … and then Mack broke his leg and was lost for the season. The Browns said he likely will be ready for spring workouts. In his favor next offseason: he can opt out of his deal. Grade: C
