Should the Cleveland Browns have used the franchise tag on Joe Schobert?

The NFL offseason is in full swing now that the NFLPA has approved the collective bargaining agreement but the Cleveland Browns already announced they are letting their middle linebacker test free agency.

Football fans everywhere can jump with joy because the NFL offseason has begun and it promises to be one of the most exciting free agency periods we’ve seen in a long time. Teams have been active already with the Cleveland Browns making their share of big moves signing tight end Austin Hooper on Monday, making him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL. They followed that up by snatching up Jack Conklin to play right tackle.

They also placed the franchise tender on running back Kareem Hunt which could land them a second-round pick if he signs with someone else. They also recently released safety Morgan Burnett and linebacker Christian Kirksey, who signed with the Green Bay Packers on Monday.

There have been a string of players placed on the franchise tag on Monday but the Browns didn’t use their tag this year, despite their leading tackler Joe Schobert being a free agent. Cleveland didn’t say they wouldn’t re-sign Schobert but did say they would let him test free agency.

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The franchise tag keeps a player on the team for at least one more year while paying them the average of the top five paid players at their position. That’s where things get tricky because the price for a linebacker this upcoming season is $16.3 million and the Browns aren’t willing to pay him that much even for just one year.

It could’ve also bought them more time to negotiate a long term contract because players on the tag have until July 15 to get a deal done otherwise they play out the season on the tag.

The amount linebackers make on the franchise tag is so much because a lot of edge rushers are listed as linebackers and they make big-time money because they have a big-time impact on the game, a middle linebacker rarely moves the needle that much.

There is no way that Cleveland could’ve taken that big of a hit on the cap for Schobert when they have so many other holes on the roster to fill. Browns fans are upset and they have a reason to be, Schobert is a good player and he’s done well in Cleveland but the team wasn’t willing to pay his asking price. We will have to wait until Schobert signs with a team to find out what he was asking for.

There are plenty of other free agents out there and the Browns have enough cap space to fill several holes on the roster. Losing Schobert will hurt but hopefully, some new additions will take fans mind off it.