While it's been projected for some time, the Kansas City Chiefs made it official today as they tagged Dwayne Bowe with the franchise player designation that will guarantee his spot on the 2012 Chiefs roster. It also gives the team time to negotiate a long-term agreement with their best receiver if that's the way they decide to go. In doing so, the team also makes cornerback Brandon Carr an official free agent who will be able to explore the open market soon enough.
Bowe has been the Chiefs' best receiver since they drafted him out of LSU in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. In five season for the Chiefs, Bowe had nearly 5,000 yards receiving and 36 touchdowns, including a league-leading 15 in 2010. Even though the Chiefs drafted Jon Baldwin in the first round in 2011 and signed Steve Breaston to a five-year deal as a free agent, Bowe was still the top receiving option on the team and that should not change going forward. His value to the Chiefs offense is quite clear and everything else works around that.
With the franchise tag, Bowe will make around $9.6 million, a lesser amount than last year but a product of the new labor agreement struck in 2011.
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