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Sometimes, a team's perceived value of a player can be gleamed from how much they are looking to get from another team via the RFA tender, or restricted free agent. There are three levels that a team can offer a RFA, and if another team wants to sign that RFA to an offer sheet, then that other team may have to pay the former team draft compensation. For the high levels RFA tenders, compensation can be a first or second round pick. For the low ones, it can be for nothing.
In the case of Indianapolis Colts RFA Cassius Vaughn, they tendered him on the low end.
In random RFA moves: #Colts RFA tendered CB Cassius Vaughn at a right-of-first-refusal level. Worth $1.3M. But available for no compensation
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2013
Um, yeah. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement for Vaughn, who started 11 games for the Colts last season and even won AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 14.
What this low tender tells me is the Colts seem to be a-okay if another team wants to sign Vaughn. Its also strongly suggests that the Colts will be very active in free agency and the draft, looking to upgrade the cornerback position.
Personally, I like Vaughn and I think he's worth retaining over someone like Jerraud Powers, a solid corner who has never been able to stay healthy.
It will be interesting to see if another team makes a play for Vaughn. He had 58 tackles, 9 passes defended, and one pick for a touchdown in 2012.