The New York Jets had 16 players due to become unrestricted free agents tomorrow but PK Nick Folk will not be one of them. The Gang Green placed franchise tag on their kicker who had an excellent season last year, converting 33 of 36 field goal attempts.
Folk, 29, joined the Jets in 2010 as a free agent after spending the first three seasons of his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys. In the first three seasons in New York Folk was steadily converting around 76-78% of his field goal attempts. Last year's 33 of 36 (91.7%) was a career high that surpassed 90.9% accuracy that he posted in the second season with the Cowboys.
Folk hit his first 23 field goals last season, including 3 game-winners. He also hit all 3 attempts over 50 yards and kept his accuracy in tough conditions.
The franchise tag for kickers was expected to be around $3.5M.