It looks like the Cincinnati Bengals are not going to play tag this year.
According to the Cincinnati Enquirer’s report, Tyler Dragon, the Bengals are unlikely to use the franchise’s brand. This means that defensive striker Carl Lawson and cornerback William Jackson will officially become free agents on Monday if no extension is reached.
The deadline for NFL teams to use the tag is 16:00 Eastern Time today.
Bengals are unlikely to use their franchise brand until the 4 pm ET deadline. Things can change, but it is unlikely, from multiple sources. #Bengals
– Tyler Dragon (@TheTylerDragon) March 9, 2021
It is somewhat surprising that the Bengals do not use the label given the importance of Jackson and Lawson for this defense. Perhaps it is a sign that Bengals is close to an extension with one or both players.
While the Bengals certainly want to have enough space in the game to update the attack and better protect Joe Burrow, it will be a big blow to this franchise if Lawson and Jackson are playing elsewhere next season.
Do you think this is the right decision for the Bengals front line? Let us know in the comments section below!