NFL Free Agency 2012: Matt Flynn Likely Candidate for Green Bay Packers Franchise Tag
By Chris Smith
With the news today that Jermichael Finley has received a new deal, the Green Bay Packers now have a new decision – do they use their franchise tag on another player?
If they do, there aren’t many players who they could use the tag on that would make any kind of sense. The leading candidate would be backup quarterback Matt Flynn. This would be an interesting move given that Flynn would be in line for a $14.5 million contract under the tag – this being almost double what star Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers will make in 2012.
So why would the Green Bay Packers make this move? Throughout the offseason we have heard many stories about various teams in need of a quarterback being interested in Matt Flynn. This includes the usual suspects – Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns being the top teams. As this interest has grown and teams have watched Flynn on tape, there will be at least one team out there who has become convinced that Flynn is their guy.
With all the hype surrounding Flynn, if the Packers use the franchise tag on him they can use this as leverage to trade the former LSU quarterback and get some value for him. Currently, the most they could expect if Flynn were to leave in free agency would be a compensatory 2012 third round pick. In trade value Flynn would be worth at least a second and perhaps a first round pick if more than one team got heavily involved.
Under the CBA, a team can sign a tagged player but they must give two first round picks to that player’s team in compensation. However, there is no such cost should the player be traded rather than being poached. All that would need is for Flynn to sign a contract that the team who trades for him is happy with – similar to the trade of Donovan McNabb to the Minnesota Vikings in 2011.
Do the Packers have any other options? There are three players they may choose to tag but are unlikely to – defensive lineman Johnny Jolly, centre Scott Wells and running back Ryan Grant. In each case the player is valued somewhat by the Packers organisation but the cost of the franchise tag couldn’t be justified as none of these three players would be worth paying the amount that will be specified for their respective positions.
We here at NFL Spin Zone will keep an eye on this developing story and as soon as we have any confirmation of what the Packers decide to do we will have it for you here.
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