Tag door closes … The window for NFL teams to designate franchise and transition players closed just moments ago at 4 PM ET. In the end, a total of 7 players were named franchise players by their respective teams: Washington QB Kirk Cousins, DEs Chandler Jones of Arizona and Jason Pierre-Paul of the Giants, Pittsburgh RB Le’Veon Bell, Carolina DT Kawann Short, LA Chargers OLB Melvin Ingrama nd LA Rams CB Trumaine Johnson. Cousins and Bell both received the exclusive designation meaning no other team can negotiate with them, although both have been mentioned as possible tag and trade candidates, Cousins to San Francisco and Bell to New England. Meanwhile, the other 5 were given the non-exclusive tag meaning they can sign with another team, but that team would own the rights holder two first-round picks if they opted not to match any contract signed by the player. And needless to say, the fact that these players were franchised will have a major impact on which positions their respective teams focus on at the 2017 draft. Stay tuned!
