Will Bengals use franchise tag?

It won’t be long until NFL free agency begins, and the Cincinnati Bengals are projected to have around $37 million in cap space. While the hope is they’ll be in active in pursuing outside free agents to upgrade the roster, they’re also faced with the challenge of re-signing two of their most important defenders.

William Jackson III figures to be one of the top cornerbacks to hit the market this year, while the same is true of Carl Lawson in terms of free agent pass-rushers. Just getting one of them back in the fold, but one asset the Bengals have to make this easier is the franchise tag.

Starting Tuesday, teams can begin using the tag up until 4 pm ET on March 9. Between Lawson and Jackson, there’s a real chance the Bengals use the tag, though it would come with a heavy price tag while also being just a one-year deal. We’ve seen plenty of instances where NFL players were tagged and opted to hold out to voice their frustration, so using it can get messy.

Still, a Bengals team that’s won just six games over the last two years cannot afford to lose both Jackson and Lawson.

So, when push comes to shove, do you think Cincinnati will apply the tag to one of its impending free agent defenders? Let us know in the poll below and in the comments section!

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