Joe Flacco Could Receive Desired $20 Million in 2013 If Ravens Use Exclusive-Rights Franchise Tag

by Doug Kyed on Sun, Feb 3, 2013 at 11:11AM

It’s amazing how much can change in the span of a month.

As the 2012 season was winding down, the idea of franchising Joe Flacco seemed silly to some. The Ravens lost four of their final five games and the Ravens quarterback had turned in another up and down season.

But now the Ravens are in the Super Bowl, and whether Flacco brings them to victory or not, he was still able to win two tough road games to get them where they are. That’s why it would be wise for the Ravens to use the exclusive-rights franchise tag on Flacco this offseason.

Flacco would earn a higher one-year salary if Baltimore used the exclusive-rights exception, but he would not be able to negotiate with other teams. If the Ravens used the non-exclusive franchise tag, Flacco would earn less, but he could negotiate with other teams, and if the Ravens didn’t match their offer, they would receive two first-round picks.

If given the exclusive-rights tag, Flacco would earn $20.464 million, according to Pro Football Talk. That’s not a bad pay day for a guy who was 19th in completion percentage and 14th in yards per attempt in 2012.