NFL franchise tags: Broncos keep Miller; Cousins gets $19.9 mil
Super Bowl MVP Von Miller and fellow All-Pro players Josh Norman and Eric Berry were given franchise tags Tuesday, the league’s deadline to do so.
In all, nine players were slapped with the franchise tag, and one, Miami defensive end Olivier Vernon, got the transition tag.
Norman, a Carolina cornerback, and Berry, a Kansas City safety, were among eight who received non-exclusive designations, so other clubs can make offers, but their current teams can match or get compensated with two first-round picks.
[...] getting tagged with free agency set to begin next Wednesday were Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins, Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, Chicago receiver Alshon Jeffery, Baltimorekicker Justin Tucker, Buffalo tackle Cordy Glenn and Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson.
Miami decided against placing the franchise tag on Vernon, and this year’s transition number calls for defensive ends to receive $12.734 million.
A transition tag allows the player to negotiate with other teams, but his current club has the right of first refusal to match any offer.
The outside linebacker has 60 sacks in his first five NFL seasons after being taken second overall in 2011 behind Cam Newton, the Panthers’ QB he harassed in the Super Bowl.
Bradford, 28, joined the Eagles last season, started 14 games and threw for a career-high 3,725 yards, the fourth-highest yardage total in franchise history.
The Bills also released offensive guard Kraig Urbik and running back Boobie Dixon.