:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48932779/usa-today-9011589.0.jpg)
Yesterday when speaking to the press, Mike Maccagnan indicated Damon Harrison was a candidate for the franchise tag. It has been widely assumed the Jets will use it on Muhammad Wilkerson before the March 1 deadline.
Maccagnan did not rule out possibly tagging Damon Harrison. Said Harrison and Wilkerson are "both options" for tag. #Jets
— Dom Cosentino (@domcosentino) February 24, 2016
I am not sure whether Maccagnan did not want to tip his hand. Maybe the team hasn't totally closed the book on the idea of tagging Harrison at this point. Logic would indicate this is an unlikely scenario, though. Projections indicate the franchise tag for a defensive tackle will be at least $13 million in 2016.
While Harrison is an excellent run stopper, $13 million and up would be an absurd total for a player who only took part in 54% of defensive snaps this season. That would be the third biggest cap hit on the team used on a player who plays a little over half the snaps. By contrast, Muhammad Wilkerson played just under 90% of the team's snaps this season.
Maccagnan might say the tag is an option on Snacks, but that is tough to believe. If Harrison stays in New York, it is probably because the two sides work out a long-term deal.