Last week, the Jets opted to place the franchise tag on leading tackler David Harris. Wednesday night, the linebacker officially signed the one-year tender, a person with direct knowledge confirmed, worth slightly more than $10 million.
ESPN first reported he had signed the tender.
Harris, a 2007 second-round pick, was one of three players to sign their franchise tenders in the last day, joining Pittsburgh's LaMarr Woodley and Carolina's Ryan Kalil.
There has been some dispute over what the tag means in the uncertain labor landscape. The NFL advised teams that they could use the tag, but the players union has maintained that the tags will be meaningless once the CBA expires on March 4. The league and the union have had six days of mediated negotiations in Washington, D.C., but no new agreement has been reached.
But it made sense for Harris to sign the tender, just like it made sense for the Jets to use the tag on him, in the case that it is valid under the new agreement.
When Harris was tagged, his agent, Brian Mackler, said a long-term deal was still the goal but that it was prudent for the Jets to protect themselves from losing Harris. The 27-year-old was the remaining unsigned member of the team's young "Core Four," along with LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, C Nick Mangold and CB Darrelle Revis.
