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5 Players the Philadelphia Eagles Could Use Franchise Tag On in 2015

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5 Players the Philadelphia Eagles Could Use Franchise Tag On in 2015

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The Philadelphia Eagles enter free agency without many candidates for the franchise tag. But here's a look at five players who could emerge as potential possibilities for it.

5. QB Mark Sanchez

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5. QB Mark Sanchez

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Relax, there’s just about no way this happens. But the logical candidate pool for the Eagles’ franchise tag is slim, and Sanchez is a player at a premium position in the NFL. Maybe in some strange way Chip Kelly likes what he saw out of him this season, so Sanchez might have a 0.1 percent chance of being franchised. But even that is being generous.

4. ILB Casey Matthews

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4. ILB Casey Matthews

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Similar to Sanchez, Casey Matthews has an extremely slim (but possible) shot at being franchised. This only happens if Kelly decides Demeco Ryans can’t bounce back from his Achilles injury, and thinks Matthews can grow into an every-down player. Matthews did step it up this year, though, so I’d expect the Eagles to bring him back on a modest deal. But if Matthews digs his heels in on negotiations, well, stranger things have happened.

3. DE Cedric Thornton

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3. DE Cedric Thornton

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Cedric Thornton has become a solid piece of the defensive line, becoming especially adept against the run. He’s definitely getting a raise on his $ 645,000 salary, and the Eagles would absolutely love it to be from them. He won’t be seen as a high-value free agent, but there could be a team out there willing to back the truck up for him. There’s a more reasonable chance at a franchise tag-situation here, but I'd be shocked if there is.

2. OLB Brandon Graham

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2. OLB Brandon Graham

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Contract negotiations have already started with Brandon Graham, and word is he wants play for a team as a 4-3 defensive end. Graham successfully made the conversion to outside linebacker and played well in that scheme, so the Eagles may franchise him until they can find an every-down OLB or until Marcus Smith shows signs of improvement. This could definitely be a possibility, even though the numbers would easily work in Graham's favor.

1. WR Jeremy Maclin

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1. WR Jeremy Maclin

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There is no doubt in my mind the Eagles would franchise Jeremy Maclin if they needed to. Replacing the role of DeSean Jackson, Maclin exploded for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s getting paid this offseason, that much is for sure. The Eagles’ offense needs him badly and if there’s any snag in the long-term contract talks, Maclin is getting the tag with no questions asked. I don’t think it will come to that, though.

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