2023 NFL franchise tag candidates for all 32 teams as window opens to retain key

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The NFL free agency period will start ramping up over the next couple weeks as teams will get a head start on their 2023 salary cap situation, thanks to a crucial date on the league calendar. Tuesday marks the start for teams to decide whether to place the franchise tag or transition tag on any one of their players for the 2023 season, creating some cap maneuvering around the league.Some teams will use the franchise tag right away in the hopes of negotiating a long-term extension with that player in the weeks leading up to free agency. Other teams will wait to the very last minute to decide if any unrestricted free agent is worth the franchise tag -- or some teams won't even use the tag at all.Eight players received the franchise tag last season, meaning 25% of the league applied the tag on their pending free agents. Three of those players signed long-term deals with the team that applied the tag on them, and one was traded () while the other four played the year on the tag. Whether a long-term extension will be settled with that player will be proce sed in due time, yet teams will maneuver to keep their key players on the roster for 2023 and beyond.Per CBS Sports contributor and former NFL agent Joel Corry, below is thefor every player who is franchise tagged in 2023 (The 2023 salary cap is Michael Hutchinson Jersey  set at $224.8 million):  PositionProjected franchise tagQuarterback$32,416,000Linebacker$20,926,000Wide receiver$19,743,000Defensive end$19,727,000Defensive tackle$18,937,000Cornerback$18,140,000Offensive line$18,244,000Safety$14,460,000Tight end$11,435,000Running back$10,091,000Kicker/punter$5,393,000Which players are franchise tag candidates for every team over the next few weeks? Let's take a look at the unrestricted free agent for each team who could have a franchise tag placed upon them over the next few weeks (if there are any free agents worth tagging).Note:Cap space listed is from our .Potential franchise tag player: NoneThere aren't many players worth tagging on the Cardinals this offseason, as the franchise has plenty of free agents it can part ways with next month. is the only player worth tagging on this roster, the only player worth keeping on this defense.Going from a salary of $2.8 million to $19.3 million is a significant raise, especially for a rising player like Allen. A career-high 35 pre sures, 8.5% pre sure rate and 5.5 sacks is worth retaining Allen -- but not for that amount. They can afford to re-sign him without applying the tag.Potential franchise tag player:NoneThe Falcons are another franchise that don't have any players worth tagging this offseason, the closest being . Is McGary really worth giving $18.2 million this offseason?McGary has been a starting right tackle for Atlanta, but Mark Stuart Jersey  that's it at this stage of his career. While he's allowed 33 sacks over his four seasons in the league, the 3.9% pre sure rate allowed last year was the lowest of his career. McGary is getting better, but he's not worth the tag.Potential franchise tag player: (QB)This is a no-brainer for Baltimore. Jackson is the team's franchise quarterback and the Ravens will lose him for nothing if they just let him walk. The exclusive tag won't allow Jackson to negotiate with other teams while Baltimore would receive two first-round picks if they placed the non-exclusive tag on Jackson and don't match the offer from another team.Jackson is worth more than two first-round picks and the Ravens shouldn't let him walk anyway. The Ravens are 45-16 with Jackson as a starter and 8-18 without, averaging 28.0 points per game in Jackson's starts and 20.0 without him. They need Jackson on their roster in 2023.Potential franchise tag player: (S)The Bills actually have two choices here: Poyer and linebacker Trumaine Edmunds. Poyer is the older player, but also a leader this defense can't afford to lose. Giving the tag to a safety is much more forgiving, as Poyer would make $14.5 million in 2023 compared to Edmunds at $20.9 million.Poyer had a huge year at the age of 31, finishing with 63 tackles, eight pa ses defensed and four interceptions. The Bills were 12-0 when Poyer played last season and is the only player with 20-plus interceptions and 10-plus sacks since 2017.Poyer is the heart and soul of the Bills defense. He's worth the tag.Potential franchise tag player:NoneThe Panthers are another team that doesn't have anyone worth applying the tag toward this offseason. The best candidate is running back , who had a career-high 203 carries for 914 yards and five touchdowns last season (4.5 yards per carry).Carolina can retain Foreman for a much cheaper rate than $10.1 million. There's no need to apply the tag here, especially given their cap situation.Potential franchise tag player Alexander Burmistrov Jersey :NoneThe Bears have $94 million in available cap space -- and no free agents worth applying the franchise tag on. would be the only player in consideration for the tag, but he's not worth $18.2 million.Chicago would be wise to sit this one out.Potential franchise tag playerS)Bates had the same impact this year as he had in previous years, finishing with 71 tackles, eight pa ses defensed and a career-high four interceptions. Opposing quarterbacks had just a 49.8 pa ser rating targeting Bates, completing just 59% of their pa ses.The Bengals should just tag Bates again and try to work out a long-term deal. He's too good a player to let walk.Potential franchise  Shawn Matthias Jersey tag player:NoneCleveland's free agent crop isn't great this year, with being the best player who's going to hit the market. Jones, a former Pro Bowl linebacker, was traded to the Browns prior to the deadline and finished with 44 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and an interception in 11 games with Cleveland.Jones is a good player, but the Browns can retain at a much cheaper rate than $20.9 million.  Potential franchise tag player: (RB)If there's a running back to place a tag on, Pollard is one of a few. An explosive player since he's entered the league, Pollard has averaged 5.1 yards per carry in his four seasons. Dallas was explosive when Pollard finally was used in the featured role, as he finished with 1,007 yards, nine rushing touchdowns and 5.2 yards per carry. He also averaged 9.5 yards per reception in earning a Pro Bowl appearance.Pollard is worth $10.1 million as Dallas buys more time to seek a long-term deal. Pay Pollard and cut .Potential franchise tag player:NoneThe Broncos don't have a player worth tagging in 2023, as their free agent cla s won't be in high demand as in previous years. They also have a limited number of draft picks available, so applying the tag isn't nece sary.  If there was a player Denver could tag, it would be . While durable and coming off a career high in tackles (94), Jackson is 34 and not worth paying $14.5 million in 2023.Potential franchise tag player:NoneDetroit has free agents worth retaining, but none is worth slapping the tag on prior to free agency. had a huge year with 1,066 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns (which led the league), but the Lions can keep him around for much le s than $10.1 million. is also worth re-signing, but not worth the tag rate of $18.1 million. He didn't have an interception last season and opposing quarterbacks had a 97.9 pa ser rating targeting him. The Lions can re-sign Oruwariye for a cheaper rate as he's still a key piece of that defense.  Potential franchise tag player:NoneThe Packers don't have a lot of free agents this offseason as they await the decision of -- again. If there's any player worth slapping the tag on, it would be , who has been a key piece in that defense for several years.Amos had a very poor year in coverage as opposing quarterbacks had a 103.8 pa ser rating targeting him while he allowed six touchdown pa ses and a 70.2% completion rate. Amos did have a career-high 102 tackles, but giving him $14.5 million with their cap situation would be asinine.Potential franchise tag player:NoneThe Texans don't have a single free agent worth tagging. They are better off sitting this one out and adding talent through other teams. Having that No. 2 draft pick and finding a franchise quarterback should be their key focus this offseason.Potential franchise tag player:None  Indianapolis is in the same situation as Houston, needing to find that franchise quarterback for a roster that should be better than what they've shown over the past few seasons. would be worth the consideration of placing the tag on after a season which he finished with 9.5 sacks, 44 pre sures and a 10.8% pre sure rate.Ngakoue can still get to the quarterback and has been one Ben Chiarot Jersey  of the consistent pa s rushers over the past several seasons, never having fewer th