Scratch the Rams from the list of teams that possibly will use the franchise tag in 2014.
During a recent interview with Pro Football Talk on NBCSN, Rams G.M. Les Snead characterized offensive lineman Rodger Saffold (pictured) as the team’s top priority in free agency. But Snead said that the team won’t use the franchise tag on Saffold, or on anyone.
"[W]e will try to get Saffold done, just through natural, regular negotiations,” Snead said.
With the Rams viewing Saffold over the long haul as a guard, applying the franchise tag makes little sense, given that the calculation lumps all offensive linemen into the same category -- which means the tag reflects elite left tackle money.
The Rams have no other big-name free agents that would justify franchise-tag money, so it makes sense that they won’t be using the franchise tag.