The NFL deadline for franchise tags is 4 pm on Monday and the New York Giants are a team to watch, as they have Hakeem Nicks, Jon Beason and Linval Joseph as players that could be in line to get tagged and most reports have the team looking to lock up linebacker Jon Beason with a new contract before the free agent signing period opens on March 11.
The Giants traded a seventh round pick for Beason last season when they needed linebacker help following a number of injuries and it was one of the best and most valuable moves that GM Jerry Reese made. Beason played so well for the team and helped solidify himself at the position that NJ.com is reporting that the Giants want to sign him to a long term contract before free agency begins. The team is planning on allowing Hakeem Nicks and Justin Tuck to hit the market and this comes after some speculated that the team could tag Nicks and wait a year before trying to sign him to another contract.
The Giants don't appear to be going down that route and Beason is the most likely player of the main free agents to get a deal before free agency starts. The team wants to retain Joseph after the way he has played over the past few years, but he may end up costing too much to keep. Beason's number on the franchise tag would be around $11 million and that is more than the Giants would like to spend at the position and that could lead to a contract over two of three years with three or four million per season for Beason.
If the team tags Beason, the Giants would then get the chance to sign him between now and the start of free agency on March 11 to a longer term deal. The cost of tagging Joseph would be about $10 million and that is pricey for a one year deal, while the Same goes for Nicks, who would cost $12 million after the season he just had.
