Seattle Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark just finished up the best season of his career — in a contract year, no less. If the team can’t find a way to sign Clark to a long-term extension this offseason, he could become an unrestricted free agent this March at the start of the new league year.
But there is another option to keep Clark in town for the short term: the franchise tag. The tag represents a guaranteed contract offer for one year and would prevent Clark from hitting the open market.
Clark joins the Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence, the Texans’ Jadeveon Clowney, the Chiefs’ Dee Ford, the Falcons’ Grady Jarrett and the Giants Landon Collins as Around the NFL editor Gregg Rosenthal’s six no-brainer franchise tag candidates.
“Few edge rushers have provided steadier pressure over the last two seasons. Coach Pete Carroll confirmed the team is ‘counting on’ Clark coming back,” Rosenthal writes. His age (turning 26 in June) makes him a far stronger candidate for the tag than Earl Thomas, who cemented his divorce with the Seahawks with a one-finger salute.”
NFL teams have from Feb. 19 to March 5 at 4 p.m. ET to designate franchise or transition players.
