Tuesday was the deadline for NFL teams to place the franchise tag on one of their impending free agents, essentially keeping them from signing elsewhere. Several NFL teams have used that option, which gives the two sides a few months to nail down a long-term contract and pays the player as one of the best at his position. These players have been tagged.
For the Arizona Cardinals, one player they could use the tag on is linebacker Haason Reddick, who had a breakout year in 2020 with 12.5 sacks. However, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cardinals will not use the tag on Reddick.
Cardinals’ LB Hasson Reddick, who had a team-high 12.5 sacks and 16 quarterback hits last season, was informed that he will not be tagged, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2021
That means the Cardinals only have until next week to sign him to a contract or he will be able to negotiate with other teams.
Reddick, drafted in the first round in 2017, was largely a disappointment for three seasons, struggling at inside linebacker. However, he was moved to outside linebacker late in 2019 and then played a full season at the position in 2020. He had five sacks in a part-time role in the first seven games, playing in a part-time role to start and then moving into the starting lineup after Chandler Jones tore his biceps and was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.
He then went five games with no sacks and then exploded with five in one game against the New York Giants and finishing with 7.5 sacks in his final four games.
The franchise tag would have paid him more than $13 million in 2021.
He could still come back but it appears the Cardinals are willing to let him test the market to see what he can get.
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