Why the franchise tag could be more important to the Broncos this year than ever before

DENVER — Snow is on the ground, the Colorado Rockies have reported for spring training, and the NFL is in its dullest time of the year.

Welcome to franchise tag season, officially beginning today, Tuesday, Feb. 20.

For the next two weeks, until Mar. 6, at 2:00 p.m. MST, teams will have the ability to place either the transition tag or the almighty powerful—and more widely used—franchise tag on one player who’s set to become a free agent. The franchise tag essentially allows a team to keep any one player under their contract for one more season, yet at a high cost.

John Elway hasn’t been shy about using the high-priced one-year lease in the past—creating significant drama in 2015 with Demaryius Thomas and in 2016 with Von Miller. But this year should be different and follow last year with the tag going unused.

Just in Denver, that is.

However, across the country, there are two teams that could have a great impact on the Denver Broncos depending on what they do with their all-powerful tag.

In the nation’s capital, all eyes will be on the Washington Redskins to see if they do the unthinkable and franchise tag Kirk Cousins for a third-straight year. Not only would that be remarkable, considering they already have their future quarterback Alex Smith on the roster, they would be putting themselves in an incredibly risky situation.

If the Redskins tag Cousins, they would immediately be on the books for his incredibly high price tag of $34.5 million, thus putting the combined salaries of Smith and Cousins over $55 million for 2018. Now, of course, the Redskins would tag him with the sole intention of trading him, but if Cousins doesn’t agree to a trade, he can hold out on signing the franchise tag and put Washington in an incredibly uncomfortable situation.

For Denver, if Washington does what most would suggest them not to do and franchise Cousins, this would mean they would have to trade for him instead of pursuing him on the open market. Since Washington would have very little leverage in a trade scenario, the Broncos would likely only have to give up a mid-round draft pick, potentially up to a third-rounder.

If this happens, once Denver acquired Cousins, they could then work out a long-term deal with him to avoid paying him $34.5 million in 2018. If the Redskins decide to let Cousins walk, and not tag him, the Broncos and every other team in the league will be free to pursue the best available quarterback on the open market.

While all eyes will be on D.C. during this two-week timeframe, the Broncos’ eyes may be better suited on the northern-most city with an NFL franchise: Minneapolis, MN.

In what may be the most interesting, and unknown, quarterback situation in the league this offseason, the Minnesota Vikings have a major decision on their hands: To franchise tag Case Keenum or not.

After nothing short of an incredible coming out season for Keenum—22 touchdowns to seven interceptions—the Vikings have to choose whether he is the future of the franchise or whether it’s one of the other two quarterbacks on the roster who are set to hit free agency in Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater.

If the Vikings go with Keenum, it could very well be by way of a franchise tag, expected to cost over $23 million for 2018.

For the Broncos, this move would mean two things. First, it would take arguably the second-best potential free agent quarterback, after Cousins, off the market. Second, it would take the Vikings out of the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes.

With many teams expected to go after Cousins if he becomes a free agent, the majority, if not all, didn’t finish with a winning record last year including the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals and the Broncos. That is, except if the Vikings are in the mix.

After Cousins said winning is “more important than anything,” including money, in terms of choosing his next team, the 13-3 NFC North champs could be very enticing for Cousins, and thus Denver’s biggest competitor to land Captain Kirk’s services.

If, however, Minnesota tags Keenum, the Broncos biggest competitor in landing Cousins could be the Browns or the Jets.

John Elway will know what he’s up against in just two short weeks.