Wednesday open thread: Were the Lions right in not using the franchise tag?

There were conflicting rumors well into the 11th hour Tuesday, but as the deadline approached, the Detroit Lions opted not to use their franchise tag this year. There were lots of eyes on star receiver Kenny Golladay, but when word got out that the Lions wouldn’t use it on him, those eyes turned to Romeo Okwara. In the end, however, the Lions stayed put.

Question of the day: Were the Lions right in not using the franchise tag this year?

My answer: Absolutely.

The Lions are in rebuild mode and are basically starting this team from scratch. Kenny Golladay should not waste his prime on that, nor should the Lions be paying him the kind of money that a wide receiver on the franchise tag necessitates.

Okwara had a breakout year, but one that should, and likely will get him paid in the second tier of pass rushers in the NFL. To pay him like a top-five edge rusher would be a bad mistake to start off the new regime.

What do you think? Should the Lions have done something with the franchise tag or was staying pat the right move? Let’s hear it.