NFL New Orleans Saints

5 Players the New Orleans Saints Could Use the Franchise Tag On

5 Players Who Could Get Hit with the Franchise Tag

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Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Saints enter the offseason with many questions that need answers. The first is dealing with their horrible salary cap situation – which is quickly followed by how will they sign their crop of UFA's? The silver lining is that they really only have one player who has a better than average shot of getting hit with the franchise tag. Though, placing the tag on one of the following players isn't out of the question either.

5. Ramon Humber

Humber
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5. Ramon Humber

Humber
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Though it's not overly likely that the Saints will opt to use the tag on Humber, he is the primary backup to Curtis Lofton, and did play in 15 games for New Orleans last season. He recorded a sack, a pass defensed, and 50 tackles in 2014, and given some of their defensive issues last season, the Saints may opt to keep Humber rather than let him walk out of the Big Easy.

4. Jonathan Goodwin

Goodwin
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4. Jonathan Goodwin

Goodwin
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

After spending three seasons in San Francisco, the Saints brought Goodwin back for a second tour of duty after he'd spent the 2006-10 seasons as Drew Brees' center. He's an unrestricted free agent now, and good centers aren't always that easy to find. Given the level of comfort that exists between Goodwin and Brees already, the team may opt to place the tag on him if they can't work out another deal.

3. Parys Haralson

Haralson
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3. Parys Haralson

Haralson
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In their 3-4 base defensive scheme, Haralson is an integral part. He did rack up three sacks to go along with his 36 tackles in 2014. With second year man Ronald Powell as Haralson's main backup, the Saints may not think he's quite ready for prime time just yet. Which may lead them to use the tag on Haralson if they can't work out a new contract with him.

2. Patrick Robinson

Robinson
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2. Patrick Robinson

Robinson
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Given the Saints' troubles in the defensive backfield last season, a change is likely in order. But Robinson, as the team's primary nickel corner, played well in 2014, snagging a pair of interceptions to go along with his 39 tackles. The Saints simply cannot afford to lose any more help in the secondary and will likely try to negotiate a new deal with Robinson. If no accord can be reached, it's possible they use the tag on him.

1. Mark Ingram

Ingram
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1. Mark Ingram

Ingram
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Ingram is probably the only New Orleans UFA in real danger of having the franchise tag used on him, in all honesty. He rushed for 964 yards and nine touchdowns in 2014, and his 4.3 YPC helped ease a little of the burden off of Drew Brees and the passing attack. Ingram is a UFA and the Saints would love to have him back. But a bidding war for his services may break out amongst several teams, which may prompt the Saints to place the tag on him.

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