Tuesday marks the first day teams are able to designate players for the franchise tag. The tag is a tool to keep high-profile players at a generous salary for one season while the two sides try to work out a long-term contract.
We do not expect the Pittsburgh Steelers to use the tag on any of their extensive list of free agents this time around.
The Steelers biggest free agents are quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. But it is hard to imagine a franchise as frugal as the Steelers shelling out $41.325 for a single season for either of these players. We do look for the Steelers to re-sign Fields to a contract but something far more reasonable.
The only other free agent in the conversation is running back, Najee Harris. But to be fair, after the Le’Veon Bell franchise tag debacle, there’s no way Pittsburgh is going down that road again to the tune of $13.629 million. Harris is going to have ample opportunity to test his value on the free-agent market but could find himself back with the Steelers.