Warning: this column is more than a little wonky.
Starting Feb. 15, NFL teams have a one-week window during which they can use the franchise tag to protect one of their free agents from hitting the open market. Of the Baltimore Ravens' primary free agents (defensive tackle Brandon Williams, offensive tackle Ricky Wagner, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, wide receiver Kamar Aiken), Williams is probably the most dynamic talent, and assistant general manager Eric DeCosta has gone on the record regarding how much they value him as a player.
Unfortunately for the Ravens, the projected $13.5 million cost of the tag for a defensive tackle this season (determined by averaging the top five annual salaries at the position) is probably too much for the franchise tag to be a legitimate option in trying to keep Williams. While a long-term deal with the Ravens is likely to cost them close to eight figures a season, the Ravens would essentially set the annual market for their own player at the $13.5 million mark. Either they'd have to pay that figure for 2017 (making him the second-highest paid player on the team) or they'd have to give him a long-term deal that would essentially be guaranteed to start at $13.5 million a year because, again, they set Williams' value by giving him the tag.
