Giants place franchise tag on Jason Pierre-Paul

The New York Giants placed their franchise tag on defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, the team announced Monday.

Pierre-Paul recorded 77 tackles, 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. The 25-year-old is slated to be paid $14.8 million, per the franchise tag designation for defensive ends. 

In his second NFL season back in 2011, Pierre-Paul had a phenomenal campaign, recording 16.5 sacks and 86 tackles and leading the Giants to a Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots. 

He failed to reach those stratospheric heights in the following two seasons, and many wondered whether the defensive end's breakout year was a mere anomaly. 

Pierre-Paul put those concerns to rest in 2014, coming on strong in the latter half of the season. The Giants' star recorded 12.5 sacks and a career-high three forced fumbles, with nine of those sacks coming in the team's final five games. 

When he's at the top of his game, Pierre-Paul is one of the most frightening edge rushers in the NFL and is a stalwart of the Giants' 4-3 defense. He grades out as the seventh-best 4-3 defensive end, according to Pro Football Focus. 

With his contract no longer a distraction, it remains to be seen whether Pierre-Paul can be the definitive leader of the Giants' defense for years to come.