Back when we wrote our “Franchise Tag Primer” a few weeks ago, we called cornerback Brent Grimes a “no brainer” to get the tag.
We heard back from a lot of people that didn’t think it was so guaranteed. In the end, the Falcons didn’t want to let their best cornerback hit the market.
Falcons G.M. Thomas Dimitroff announced on 790 The Zone Friday morning that Grimes will get tagged. The team is still working on a long-term contract with linebacker Curtis Lofton.
The absence of Grimes on the open market will help the value of Brandon Carr and Cortland Finnegan -- assuming they make it to the market.
Some have questioned Grimes’ versatility and toughness, but he’s undeniably a solid cover cornerback. He’s expected to make more than $10 million for his services, although the NFL hasn’t officially released the franchise numbers yet.