New York Giants: Why tagging Jason Pierre-Paul is a positive

On Tuesday, the New York Giants applied the franchise tag to defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. Pierre-Paul will make $14.813 million in 2015 unless the team works out a long-term deal. And while the parties were unable to come to terms on a contract, franchise tagging the talented pass-rusher is a huge positive for the organization.

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Prior to 2014, Pierre-Paul looked nothing like the player who helped lead the Giants to a Super Bowl in 2011. Injuries took their toll on Pierre-Paul and his play suffered. He amassed a combined 8.5 sacks in two years (2012 and 2013) and didn’t look like a player worthy of a lucrative deal. He turned it around in 2014, though not until the Giants were basically eliminated from playoff contention. Pierre-Paul entered the bye-week with a pedestrian 3.5 sacks, but would end up finishing the year with 12.5, including two or more in three of his last four games.

However, even when Pierre-Paul wasn’t hitting the quarterback during the first half of the year, he was applying pressure or disrupting passes. He generally looked like the good-old Pierre-Paul Giants fans have come to know and love.

There’s the problem with a long-term deal, though, and that’s why tagging the 26-year-old defensive end was the smart way to go.

Pierre-Paul’s situation is similar to division rival Brian Orakpo of the Washington Redskins.

Washington was concerned with Orakpo’s health, despite having a 10-sack season in 2013. So Washington decided to forgo a long-term deal and instead franchise tagged Orakpo in a sort of “prove-it” type of deal. Orakpo would end up missing nine games in 2014 due to injuries and he finished with a mere half-sack.

Dec 14, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (90) hits Washington Redskins quarterback

Robert Griffin

III (10) as he passes the ball during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

The Giants want to make sure the player they saw last year is the player that’s going to remain on the field. They want the old Jason Pierre-Paul back. By applying the franchise tag to the team’s fiercest defensive player, they’re ensuring he’s not going anywhere.

The franchise tag essentially works as a built-in contingency plan for the Giants. If – obviously this is worst-case scenario – Pierre-Paul’s production significantly drops or he begins to develop severe off-field issues, the Giants have a proverbial opt-out clause after one year. They don’t have to renew their subscription.

However, that’s not the case. The Giants obviously know how valuable Pierre-Paul is – especially since he’s developed into a very good run-stopping end – so a deal will surely be discussed in the near future.

The franchise tag simply buys more time for the two parties to work on a deal, too, even if it doesn’t happen next week.

Although the franchise tag isn’t the sexiest solution to a contract conundrum, the Giants don’t seem too keen to let the former first-round pick play anywhere other than New York. If that’s truly the goal, then the Giants are headed one step closer toward locking up Jason Pierre-Paul for the long haul.

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