With the clock ticking on the 14 franchise-tagged players who haven’t signed long-term deals, the prognosis is mixed on whether more than a few will get a contract or play out their one-year tenders.
Jason LaCanfora of CBSSports.com said “perhaps only three or four deals will actually get struck,” before Monday’s deadline, based on conversations with league sources.
He counts Drew Brees among the likely to get done, based largely on the fact it’s inconceivable to other general managers that the Saints wouldn’t do what’s necessary to lock him up. Brees himself is optimistic, but it seems like the assumption he’ll be signed is stronger than any evidence of movement.
LaCanfora also cites Bears running back Matt Forte as likely, claiming “considerable progress,” and mentions Raiders safety Tyvon Branch as “the closest of all this group to a deal.”
LaCanfora said a source with knowledge of the Patriots talks with wide receiver Wes Welker termed it “50-50” that a deal gets done.
Otherwise, it sounds like it could be a slow weekend for most of the tagged players.