Friday was a big day on the NFL calendar, as it was the deadline for franchise tagged players to sign long-term deals with their current clubs.
It seems that each year the 1:00 p.m. PT deadline spurs action around the league, and 2016 was no different. Multiple players from around the league inked new deals with respective teams, and the biggest name to secure a new deal is of particular interest to the Silver and Black.
After months of back and forth, outside linebacker Von Miller and the Denver Broncos finally reached an agreement on a six-year deal worth a reported $114.5 million. With over $70 million in guaranteed money and a total value north of $114 million, Miller's contract is the largest in league history for a defensive player.
Following the signing of his deal, the Super Bowl 50 MVP took to social media to post an image of himself with the text "FOR LIFE."
Throughout the offseason, Miller repeatedly said that he would not play under the franchise tag in 2016, but now with the signing of his new megadeal, his future is set in Denver.
While Miller and the Broncos were able to come to terms on a long-term deal, the same did not hold true for Eric Berry and the Kansas City Chiefs.
After an impressively resurgent campaign in 2015, the All-Pro safety was also placed under the franchise tag, but he and the Chiefs were unable to reach a deal by Friday's deadline.
"Unfortunately, we were unable to reach a long-term agreement with Eric's representatives before today's deadline," Chiefs General Manager John Dorsey said in a statement. "Although both sides would have preferred a different outcome, Eric is a true professional and a tremendous football player, and we know that he will continue to be a leader in our locker room. We look forward to resuming our discussions on a long-term agreement when the negotiating window reopens after the season."
General Manager Reggie McKenzie and the Oakland Raiders did not utilize the franchise tag in 2016.
The following players were franchise tagged and did not reach a long term deal with their teams:
Quarterback Kirk Cousins – Washington Redskins
Cornerback Trumaine Johnson – Los Angeles Rams
Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery – Chicago Bears
The following players were franchise tagged and did reach a long term deal with their teams:
Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson – New York Jets
Kicker Justin Tucker – Baltimore Ravens
