Detroit Lions: Ziggy Ansah a prime candidate for franchise tag
By Zac Snyder
Ziggy Ansah is set to become a free agent this offseason, leaving the Detroit Lions with a very big decision to make regarding the franchise tag.
The Detroit Lions defense will see plenty of changes under new head coach Matt Patricia. Scheme and philosophy will change and some personnel will as well. The biggest name in limbo is defensive end Ziggy Ansah who is set to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins next month.
Of course, Ansah will only actually hit free agency if the Lions want him to. The Lions could use the franchise tag to keep him off the market and ensure his return for at least the 2018 season.
Jason La Canfora wrote up his list of five players worth the transition or franchise tag this offseason, of which Ansah was one. La Canfora explains:
"The injury issues have been acute. And lingering. He hasn’t been right in a couple of years. I get all of that … But he has flashed as an elite pass rusher and true difference maker in the past. And having just hired a rookie head coach in Matt Patricia who doesn’t have too many blue-chip guys on his side of the ball, I’m not letting Ansah leave the building. I’ll eat the $17.5 million against my cap if I have to. I don’t take the chance on a transition tag. I am hoping there is a multi-year deal out there for us this summer, but at this stage for this franchise, I can’t let a player with this sort of upside leave at a critical position when I have nearly $50 million in cap space."
The Lions’ pass rush is in need of help even if Ansah stays so letting him walk in free agency wouldn’t seem prudent. That’s especially true since they have the cap space to make it work while still having some left over to address other needs.
It would be one thing if the Lions had to make a choice between a franchise tag for Ansah or two or three other players who could contribute right away but they have enough cap space for an “all of the above” scenario.
Hesitancy to sign Ansah to a long-term mega deal that pass rushers in their prime often get is understandable. He’s been bothered by nagging injuries over the last couple seasons and hasn’t always shown up in big spots. A franchise tag will be a bigger one year cap hit than would be expected on a long-term deal but it also leaves the Lions with some flexibility beyond 2018.
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Perhaps there is some middle-ground for a multi-year deal that both sides would be comfortable with. Even then, a franchise tag wouldn’t be an unexpected first step to make sure Ansah is a Lion in 2018.