Chargers Place High Tender on WRs Jackson, Floyd

[theFRANCHISE]

The Baltimore Ravens and the rest of the NFL's chances at acquiring Chargers WRs Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd have now been drastically lowered.

San Diego has opted to place a high tender on restricted free agents Jackson, Floyd, and LB Shawne Merriman. ([url="http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Wilson-Chargers-to-give-high-tender-to-Merriman-Jackson-and-Floyd.html"]LINK[/url])

This means that teams must sacrifice both a first-round and third-round pick to acquire any of those players, making the price tag even steeper given that a trade, while still possible after the offer sheets are signed, would almost certainly entail negotiating new contracts after completing the transaction.

Though I was all for signing Floyd or Jackson, I didn't envision the Chargers placing a high tender on Floyd. It looks as if the Ravens are back to square one when it comes to free agent WRs, barring a major release in the week leading up to free agency. The unrestricted free agency period begins at midnight this Friday, March 5th.

If the Ravens are to make a big splash, they would have to force a trade -- but that doesn't necessarily entail Brandon Marshall or Anquan Boldin. Should the Ravens pursue any restricted free agent WR and accept the high tender (the equivalent of a trade for Marshall/Boldin), they would likely opt for a WR that would demand a more affordable contract than Marshall or Boldin. Either way, it won't be cheap, but a move will almost certainly be made if a WR if the team does not feel comfortable with the unrestricted free agent market.

[Clutch Ravens]

There should be rules defining what sort of tender you can place on a player to avoid rediculous situations like this. A 1st and 3rd is a stretch for Vincent Jackson, nevermind Malcolm Floyd. Placing a 1st and 3rd tender on Floyd would be like us placing that same tender on Washington if he were an RFA (not quite, I'm exaggerating to make a point).

[Jamal]

Hate to say I told you so, but I was one of the few people who said getting Floyd would be just as hard as getting Marshall if not harder.

This doesn't surprise me one bit.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='Give it to Clutch Clayton' date='28 February 2010 - 02:41 PM' timestamp='1267386106' post='366199']
There should be rules defining what sort of tender you can place on a player to avoid rediculous situations like this. A 1st and 3rd is a stretch for Vincent Jackson, nevermind Malcolm Floyd. Placing a 1st and 3rd tender on Floyd would be like us placing that same tender on Washington if he were an RFA (not quite, I'm exaggerating to make a point).
[/quote]
The tender that a team places on a player indicates how badly they want to keep the player; it does not preclude signing a long-term contract extension beyond that season, but most teams aim to negotiate a long-term deal when placing that tender.

It's a cheaper alternative to the franchise tag since the franchise tag carries a hefty price tag (the top five salaries at that position.) Additionally, to place a high tender is an act of faith on the team's part to the player as it indicates how badly they want to keep the player while still giving other teams a fair enough shot at acquiring the player [i]if[/i] they're willing to pay the price.

What'll happen is, a new team could make an offer; if the original club doesn't match that offer, they'll lose the player to the new club but receive the draft picks as compensation. Alternately, if the offer sheet is not signed, I believe the player becomes an unrestricted free agent after a certain period of time.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='Jamal' date='28 February 2010 - 02:44 PM' timestamp='1267386294' post='366201']
Hate to say I told you so, but I was one of the few people who said getting Floyd would be just as hard as getting Marshall if not harder.

This doesn't surprise me one bit.
[/quote]
I figured the Chargers would try to place a tender on Floyd, but didn't think they valued him [i]that much[/i] to dare placing a high tender; it's a risky proposition because there's still the chance that another team would make an offer and San Diego would be forced to match the offer if they want to keep Floyd that badly.

[JO_75]

Well we can forget about signing Malcolm Floyd or VJ. Here's the article from PFT that says the Chargers will place the highest tender possible on both Floyd and Jackson which means if we signed Floyd we would probably lose our 1st and 3rd round picks. So I guess this means we will be definitely looking at WR in the draft since the Chargers just made it a lot harder to get Floyd.... Damn You Chargers!

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/02/28/chargers-to-put-highest-tenders-on-jackson-floyd/

Oh and Merriman as well will get the highest tender possible so.... who will want Merriman now????? Somehow I still see Snyder raising his hand and saying ME ME ME ME! even if he will have to give up a 1st & 3rd to get Merriman in a Skins uniform.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/02/28/merriman-to-get-highest-tender-too/

[theFRANCHISE]

It must also be said that teams cannot privately persuade a player not to sign an offer sheet with the promise of signing him in unrestricted free agency, as that constitutes tampering. Remember, restricted free agents are still technically under contract whether or not they sign the offer sheet until their status is reverted to being unrestricted.

[ed.s52]

Same here. Charger love Floyd and he was one of the reasons they dealt Chambers. Not to mention we dont rly need Floyd anyway especially not for what it will take to get him even before the Chargers put this huge price on both him and V-Jax.My personal opinion, Stallworth and a rookie WR is enough to bring our corps up to snuff if Mason returns and if we make a splash why not with antonio bryant?
Think about it, we dont need to give up any picks, he will be relatively cheap for a #1 because he didnt really play last year and he has really only had one breakout season even though he is still a beast. Can strecth the feild and catch anything thats thrown to him. If he did so great with a not spectacular qb in Garcia why not with a spectacular qb in Flacco. Like previously stated, he will command not much for a player at his level, probably like 10-25 mill assuming some stupid team doesn't offer him a huge contract. And since he isnt the fastest player we can have a sigh of relief Al Davis wont give him 40 mill. And he isnt even that old either so he can stay with Flacco a good 5 years if not more.

[edreedfromtheu]

So... you would spend the same amount of draft picks for a lesser player because they cost you less money?

That makes a whole lot of sense!

Brandon Marshall is the best fit for the current Ravens team. Acquiring a player like him would definitely lift up Derrick Mason's spirits and likely get him to come back for another season without any further thought to retirement.

It would probably do the same for Ed Reed.

No contract the Ravens would give to Brandon Marshall could ever be worse than the one they gave to Foxworth last year.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='edreedfromtheu' date='28 February 2010 - 02:54 PM' timestamp='1267386898' post='366209']
So... you would spend the same amount of draft picks for a lesser player because they cost you less money?

That makes a whole lot of sense!

Brandon Marshall is the best fit for the current Ravens team. Acquiring a player like him would definitely lift up Derrick Mason's spirits and likely get him to come back for another season without any further thought to retirement.

It would probably do the same for Ed Reed.

No contract the Ravens would give to Brandon Marshall could ever be worse than the one they gave to Foxworth last year.
[/quote]
I'm focused less on the draft picks spent than the contract that Marshall would likely command given how underpaid he's been. Additionally, there's always the chance that a trade could be consummated between the Chargers and Ravens that would negate the restricted free agent status, particularly if the player is immediately re-signed to a long-term extension; this would be similar to the trade between the Dolphins and Patriots for Wes Welker, who was a restricted FA at the time.

I fail to see where the acquisition of a player would lift the spirits of Mason or Reed; Mason's been in the league long enough to not base his decision over an addition to the roster, and I doubt Reed's decision about his [i]health[/i] has anything to do with the team's on-field prospects.

That said, if the team were to spend a 1st-and-3rd on an RFA, I'd take Vincent Jackson. More affordable contract, Pro Bowl resume, nice size, not nearly as many off-field headaches.

[McBurks]

I can understand tendering Jackson and somewhat for Floyd,but Meriwether?I was pretty sure 2009 was going to be the last year for him as a Charger.I think the Chargers are going to use him as trade bait in the draft.

[Clutch Ravens]

And to think experts a couple weeks in were saying that Merriman may have been released at the end of the season. Seeing as they want 1st and 3rd for Merriman and Floyd, what would they expect for Antonio "serial father" Cromartie?

[darklight1216]

All right then, on to plan B.

[quote name='Give it to Clutch Clayton' date='28 February 2010 - 03:37 PM' timestamp='1267389459' post='366229']
And to think experts a couple weeks in were saying that Merriman may have been released at the end of the season. Seeing as they want 1st and 3rd for Merriman and Floyd, what would they expect for Antonio "serial father" Cromartie?
[/quote]
All sources indicate that the Chargers aren't keen on keeping ScareCro.

[poedacrow]

I had my hopes up for a guy like Floyd...this is distressing news. These high tenders don't make it impossible just improbable that the Ravens nab him...or a guy like Brandon Marshall for that matter.

The draft is no better...can't seem to get a bead on where we are going this year with WR.

My head hurts from all this, man...I'm going to lay down, close my eyes and open them again in September.

[MagicianCamille]

Good, I can't stand the Chargers organization, their players, or their fans.

[FerrariFan87]

Acquiring Boldin for a 2nd Round pick is looking a whole lot better now

[ZIBBY28]

Although it seems more unlikely, that isn't to say that the Chargers wouldn't trade Floyd for a 3rd... again, unlikely, but the possibility is still there.

[REEDPIXUOFF]

Didn't we all see this coming? VJax was deifintely getting the highest tender since he's Rivers favorite target and the lowest Floyd would get is a 2nd, which is still more than Oz would be willing to trade for a guy who hasn't proven much in the nfl.

[Reddawn36]

how many of the 1st & 3rd tenders is a team allowed to give out?

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='Reddawn36' date='28 February 2010 - 08:53 PM' timestamp='1267408383' post='366354']
how many of the 1st & 3rd tenders is a team allowed to give out?
[/quote]
As many as they want; I believe there's no limit. Keep in mind, however, a high tender (i.e. 1st & 3rd round draft picks) will cost the original team around the neighborhood of $3 million in cap. A team wouldn't want to keep assigning high tenders to every player, nor do players like having restricted tenders assigned to them without the promise of continued negotiations working towards a contract extension.

Keep in mind, it's a delicate balance for the original team because if a new club is willing to part with draft picks [i]and[/i] give a much larger offer, the original team [i]must[/i] match that new offer or else lose the player. In cases where a player so beyond valuable to the team and its success, placing a tender puts them at an awkward situation where they must choose whether they can afford to match the new offer. This is why it is crucial for teams to continue negotiating contracts and try to sign contract extensions [i]before[/i] the RFA period begins.