The Miami Dolphins chose to use the franchise tag on Jarvis Landry well before the deadline to tag players passed on Tuesday, so they must have been certain that was the route they wanted to go. When you look at the situation as a whole, it’s fair to wonder if they could end up regretting it.
Numerous reports indicated last week that Landry planned to sign the franchise tender, but he had not done so as of Wednesday. According to Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald, that could have to do with the fact that Landry is upset over how the Dolphins have handled him and is trying to force them to rescind the franchise tag.
The Dolphins have given Landry and his agent permission to seek a trade, but there cannot be a trade until the star receiver signs the franchise tender. As Beasley notes, the team may not want to tie up the $16 million the franchise tag would pay Landry in 2018, as that would limit what they were able to do in the first few days of free agency. Landry is certainly aware of that, and Beasley speculates that teams may be unwilling to give up a draft pick for him in a trade. With that in mind and with Landry wanting out of Miami, he may see not signing the franchise tender as his best opportunity.
Of course, there would be a risk involved. If Landry’s goal is to either hit the open market or facilitate a trade and sign a long-term deal with his new team, he risks getting stuck in Miami for at least another year if he doesn’t sign the tender and the Dolphins don’t rescind it. Beasley notes that the availability of Sammy Watkins on the free agent market could hurt Landry’s situation, as teams might prefer to sign Watkins and not give up draft pick compensation like they would have to in a trade for Landry.
Players almost never have leverage when a team slaps the franchise tag on them, but Landry’s situation could be a bit different if the Dolphins can’t afford him and/or don’t want him.
