The Bills have said that starting left tackle Cordy Glenn would be a top priority to return to the fold for 2016 and beyond. On Tuesday Buffalo put their money where their mouth is placing the franchise tag on their blind side pass protector.
Glenn, 26, has been the team's starter at left tackle since his rookie season in 2012. The former second-round pick hasn't missed a start in the last three seasons. Buffalo had until 4 pm Tuesday to make use of the franchise tag and keep Glenn off the market.
Senior Vice President of Football Administration Jim Overdorf spoke with Glenn's representatives during the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, but it became clear that a long term contract agreement was not going to materialize before the deadline to make use of the franchise tag came and went.
The value of the 2016 franchise tag for an offensive lineman is just over $13.7 million, which is immediately charged to the club's cap figure this year. Buffalo is still working on improving a tight cap situation for 2016. It's likely that the Bills will still try to pursue a long term contract with Glenn in an effort to reduce the offensive tackle's cap charge.
The Bills have until July 15th to sign Glenn to a long-term extension. If Glenn signs his franchise tender the one-year contract is guaranteed.
Glenn joins Washington's Kirk Cousins, Chicago's Alshon Jeffery, Denver's Von Miller, Carolina's Josh Norman, Baltimore's Justin Tucker and the Jets' Muhammad Wilkerson as players who have been franchised by their NFL clubs this offseason.
