The New England Patriots face a crucial decision this offseason concerning whether to re-sign soon-to-be free agent safety Jaylinn Hawkins.
Hawkins signed a one-year deal with New England last offseason and was a key reason the Patriots reached the Super Bowl. However, he won’t come cheap this season, as Spotrac recently listed his market value at $8.3 million per year, which is significantly more than the $1.8 million he earned last season.
If the Patriots are hesitant to commit long-term to Hawkins, they could consider bringing him back during the franchise tag period. Pro Football Focus' Bradley Locker believes Hawkins is the best candidate for the franchise tag in New England.
"The good news for the Patriots is that, following their Super Bowl loss, they shouldn’t have to worry about a ton of roster turnover," Locker wrote on Wednesday. "However, the team has a key piece on an accelerating deal in Hawkins, and it could feel compelled to use the tag on him. Hawkins ranked 12th among safeties in overall PFF grade (74.9) throughout the entire season and fifth (82.4) in the regular season."
If the Patriots are contemplating tagging Hawkins, they will face a high cost, as his contract is estimated at approximately $20 million for just one season. Yet this approach allows the Patriots to avoid a long-term commitment, which could be appealing to them.
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