Franchise and Transition Tags Start Today

I can't think of any other players for us that would need either tag except for Gainwell. Although the tag in 2026 is 14.5 and 11.7 for the transition. That is if he is part of McCarthy's plan.

Next season if they don't extend Herbig this year I can see them using the franchise tag to work out a deal.

 

I would think any team that wants a long term contract will hold off on the tags while they work on a deal

I could see Dallas tagging the numbnut so they can see if he has any trade value

 

Sure

Swap a team MVP with 1023 yards of offense for a guy who gained 69 yards and is too dumb to understand the simplest of kickoff rules

Uh huh

 

I like Gainwell as a Steeler but doubt he is in black and gold next season.

 

Does the non exclusive tag fit with Gainwell

 

I still hope we trade that guy .. The new kickoff rules made the KR basically a running play with a Line of Scrimmage from side line to side line..He couldn't pick a good lane he couldn't get to the LOS in any reasonable time, he couldn't break tackles or even finish forward after a 10 to 15 yard head start...

IMO he was a horrible pick and will never be starter material in the NFL .. Not much use for a Big RB with no power in the NFL..

 

There's no chance Gainwell gets either tag. Way too much money.

Tag for Herbig will also be too expensive. Especially since it would require that he has a massive expansion of his role...and we wouldn't know if he can handle the extra load. Would require trading of cutting Highsmith or Watt. Which is technically possible, but I wouldn't hold my breath. I'll be disappointed about it, but I think Herbig goes the way of Chad Brown.

 

I will be interested to see what Baltimore does with Center Tyler Linderbaum.

They declined his 5th year $23.4 million option last year, would they now put the more expensive Tag on him? They are now looking at $27.9 million to use the Franchise Tag.


(Crazy that all O-Lineman have the same Option and Tag Value)
The decision to not pick up Linderbaum's option is based on the unusually high financial commitment and not performance. Linderbaum's fifth-year option would have been $23.4 million in 2026, which would have been $5.4 million more than the NFL's highest-paid center in terms of average per year.


Rumor has Tyler looking at going to the NYGiants with Harbaugh.

 

Lets hope the Steelers do resign Gainwell to a fair contract and KJ can learn some more behind Warren and Gainwell. Its not like KJ is costing Steelers much money.

 

I think Gainwell brings more to the table on passing downs. I am pretty sure there were games where Gainwell led the team in receiving yards. Gainwell finished tied for 2nd on the team for receiving yards in 2025.

 

Gainwell is a 4.4 RB, KJ is a 4.5+ RB. Doesn't sound like a big difference but it makes a difference in this league.

 

I think you will see from growth from Kaleb Johnson this season. It will be his first NFL offseason. I'll be interested to see if he remakes his body composition. I wouldn't be surprised if he is training to drop some weight, get more lean, and improve his short area quickness. Dropping that weight should make him a tick faster as well.

He has gotten a feel for the size, speed, and power of the players he is going against. If he is a competitor, he is going to come back determined to be tougher and better equipped to succeed.

Remember, Le'Veon Bell dropped weight, got quicker, and became probably the best running back in the NFL. I don't think Johnson has that type of talent, but I believe he is better than he showed last season.

 

I would hope he is trying to improve this offseason. That would be a sign of a true maturing professional. The kid should know that he is RB 2 at this time.

It's him and Warren and we all know is JW fragile.