Dallas Cowboys don’t like the franchise tag, but expect them to slap it on someone

The NFL players justifiably hate it, but it’s franchise tag season and the Dallas Cowboys have some difficult decisions.

Do they franchise running back Tony Pollard?

Do they franchise tight end Dalton Schultz, again?

Do they franchise safety Donovan Wilson?

Do they franchise linebacker Leighton Vander Esch?

They can only pick one. If they want to actually use it.

Maybe this decision isn’t that hard.

Tag Pollard. Let Schultz walk. Work out deals with Wilson and LVE.

Done.

The franchise tag was adopted in 1993, and while some of the language has changed this little toy allows NFL owners the chance to keep a player for one year at a hefty price without giving him a long-term contract at a massive price.

The one-year, franchise tag deal is the average of the top five salaries at his position.

Dallas Cowboys owner/general manager and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Jones doesn’t love to use the franchise tag. The tag often creates animosity between the player and the team.

The Cowboys have more often used the franchise tag to keep a player under contract while the two sides work out a long term agreement.

The history of the Dallas Cowboys and the franchise tag isn’t particularly long, nor is it loaded with winners.

The following is a list of Cowboys players who have played under the franchise tag.

(The Cowboys have used the franchise tag before to serve as a place holder in an effort to have the player under contract while they work out a long term deal. They did that with Ken Hamlin, Dez Bryant and Dak Prescott.)

Flozell Adams

In 2002, the Cowboys left tackle was considered a borderline player by the team. He became the first player in franchise history to play a season under the franchise tag.

The team finished 5-11 that season, but new coach Bill Parcells knew he needed a reliable left tackle so the team handed Flo’ a five-year deal.

Adams was a Pro Bowl player who remained the starting left tackle through the end of the 2009 season.

Anthony Spencer

The rare case of a player who signed consecutive franchise tag contracts.

In 2012, the former first round pick out of Purdue stayed with the Cowboys on a franchise tag. He produced 11 sacks that season, and made the Pro Bowl.

The Cowboys wanted him around, but were not crazy about giving him a long term contract. They used the franchise tag again in 2013.

Spencer played just one game in 2013, having suffered a preseason injury that eventually required microfracture surgery. He came back in 2014 on a one-year contract, but he wasn’t the same player. He retired after that season.

This is the case when the franchise tag actually worked for the player, and the team. Spencer received more than $20 million in ‘12 and ‘13 combined, and the team avoided a massive financial hit after his injury.

Tank Lawrence

After registering 14.5 sacks in the final year of his rookie contract in 2017, the Cowboys still had some questions about Lawrence’s health and durability.

He played under the franchise tag for the 2018 season. He had 10.5 sacks, and made the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year.

He signed a long-term extension that offseason, and has been one of the top players on the team since 2015.

Dalton Schultz

Dalton Schultz looked like he might develop into a top pass catching tight end; might. He’s not a great blocker, but he’s a good player, and professional.

In 2021, he caught 78 passes for 808 yards with eight touchdowns. He played in all 17 games that season, and dealt with a nagging knee injury for a portion of the year.

In March of 2022, the Cowboys put the tag on the former Stanford tight end worth $10.8 million. In 15 games last season, he caught 57 passes for 577 yards and four touchdowns.

He’s a solid NFL tight end. He’s not a top five NFL tight end.

It’s hard to envision the Cowboys using the tag on Schultz again.

If he leaves, it would open up the starting spot for Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot, both of whom were rookies in 2022; there would also likely be a free agent addition, too.

As you can see, the Cowboys players who have played a season under the franchise tag have ranged from Pro Bowl to meh/ish.

The onus is on the player to produce a big year in order to secure the big contract he desires.

The Cowboys don’t normally like to use it, but it’s hard to see them playing in 2023 without one player on the dreaded franchise tag.