I would think that we are the leader for Flynn. I would also think that we have to be in play for Finley. I am a Fasano fan, but I think adding Finley would be HUGE. Especially if we keep Fasano. This would give new meaning to "The Three F's" in Miami.
Yep it's possible they sign Finley before FA and then have the tag for Flynn (although the cap hit for that is huge I imagine). If Flynn is tagged from his point of view he'd do well to sign the tender right away, would force the issue. Fans in packer land are already deciding how they'll spend the draft picks we give them for trading for Flynn after he is tagged, but that's fans for you. Hopefully if Flynn is tagged we don't get involved, contract plus picks is a bad deal.
I wouldn't be shocked to see GB let Finley go, they have been developing and drafting lots of young TEs. Though to be fair to them, franchising a TE is cheap. The main question would be - aside from Flynn and Finley - whom else might they need to slap the Franchise tag on?
Flynn I'm ok with if Philbin has the conviction there. Finley I'm not. I'm not convinced he functionally does anything better than what we have now, except for drop passes. I think you've got to consider Scott Wells and then moving he or Pouncey to Guard.
Just my 2 cents, but I believe they do not tag Flynn. First, they like Philbin, he's one of them when the day is done. Flynn has been a valuable backup and they want him to have a shot at a starting gig somewhere. Also tagging a backup QB is just not economical. I mean it's easy for us to sit here and say all this stuff like it's monopoly money, but the fact is it isn't. Top 5 money on a backup qb is just senseless. They will tag Finley if they can't get a deal done.
Consider me not a fan of Finley. In my opinion he seems to be a bit more of a product of fantasy football expectations than a real life football player. GB likely will use the relatively cheap TE franchise tag on him, no one should be excited about signing him to a long term deal.
It certainly will be interesting to see if we go for Flynn or not. If anyone knows whether or not Flynn is a true NFL qb, its Philbin. So what does that say if we don't go after Flynn?
Even with his dropped passes, football outsiders still ranks Finley as the 5th best TE in the league this past season with only Gronkowski, Graham, Gates and Gonzalez ahead of him. Two of those guys are future hall of famers (perhaps all 4) and the other 2 took the TE position to a whole other level this season. Good company to be in.
There's still plenty of other TEs that I'd rank higher or much rather have considering the difference in money (what Finley will likely want). Vernon Davis, Witten, Hernandez, Pettigrew, etc. Finley seems like a waste of money for what he is. The MCL injury last year makes him even more over-priced, imo. I'm all for upgrading the TE position but he's not worth it. Case in point Zach Miller last season.
Finley cures a lot of ills that still plague this offense, regardless of who the QB is. Fasano is serviceable, but has always struck me as a glue guy more than anything else. Someone who is good when others are good around him. Finley's talent is hard to question, and his ability to get down the field and make safeties from cheating over to Marshall or any other wideout is huge, in my opinion. All of a sudden you have a seam busting tight end and Brandon Marshall quickly gaining on you as a safety, and you have to guess which one to blanket? No thanks. Flynn impressed me in the last game, against a team that still had something to play for and without a lot of his own main targets playing. But I wouldn't give up anything other than the owner's money for him. Meaning that if he gets tagged or Miami attempts to trade for him in any way, it is a mistake. Sign him if he hits the market and let him and Moore compete for the starting gig in a true competition. Moore knows the team, Flynn knows the scheme. May the better QB win. Then spend the draft/rest of free agency on adding pieces to the defense (Goldson would cure a lot of ills with our safeties if we can pry him from San Fran, also need at least one more pass rusher) and offense (o-line depth is a must and a speedy wideout who can actually catch balls would be good).
Why overpay for Finley? Fasano is a MUCH better blocker and when used properly in the passing game is quite good. Clay can make plays and is a mismatch. We have much bigger priorities. We need 3 starters on the offensive line, another receiver, depending on our defensive line (Langford, Big Paul) we could need 2 starting quality players there, another edge rusher (maybe 2), a play making free safety, a nickel corner and 2 quarterbacks. With ALL THAT some feel that tight end is a priority? I'd rank it about 12th. Hell, I think our third string quarterback is a bigger need than tight end.
If our head coach, the guy who knows Flynn better than anyone, does not go balls out to get him here then we know he is what he is....not very good.