What Is NFL Franchise Tag? Explained Deadline, Tracker and Players On It

As the new year approaches and several players’ contracts are about to expire, talks to reach a new agreement are beginning. It is possible for some league members to use the NFL franchise tag.

The tag prevents the best players from becoming unsigned and guarantees clubs first dibs over their present roster. A club can possess exclusive negotiation rights or matching rights over its players by using a franchise tag.

In the NFL, franchise tags have grown in popularity recently, albeit their use is gradually decreasing. Last year, there were just six distributed, which maintained the NFL clubs’ downward use pattern.

What is a franchise tag in the NFL?

Non-exclusive franchise tag

Teams who apply the tag have the option to match any offer made by a different club, but they also incur less expense if no other team makes an offer for the player.

The average of the five highest salaries paid to players at their position in the preceding year, or 120 percent of the player’s cap number from that season, determines the non-exclusive franchise tag cost.

Any team can match an offer sheet issued by another team if it is the NFL team that applies the non-exclusive tag to the player. The team that tagged the athlete will earn two first-round selections from the team that signed the player, should that team choose not to match the offer.

Transition tag

With a few modifications, the transition tag—another unusual tag—functions somewhat like the non-exclusive tag. Once more, the compensation is indexed to the greater of 120% of the player’s salary from the previous year or the cap percentage average of the 10 highest salaries at that position from the previous season. Any player on the transition tag is free to negotiate with other teams, just as non-exclusive players. The new team would not be required to pay any compensation if the player’s existing team declines the competing offer. A transition tag is essentially a non-exclusive tag that spares the player’s original team of two first-round draft selections.

Exclusive franchise tag

A one-year NFL player contract will be awarded as the exclusive franchise tender for

— (A) as of the conclusion of the restricted free-agent signing period for that league year, the average of the five highest player contract wages

— or (B) the total required tender amount as stated in the preceding subsection, whichever is higher.

By giving a player the exclusive franchise tag, a team effectively says they can’t sign a player to an extension while also admitting that they know the player would have a large market and won’t risk losing him.

A player will not go on the open market if they receive the exclusive franchise tag. Their maximum price will be no more than the non-exclusive tag amount if the non-exclusive figure is greater (which is unusual, if it occurs at all) or the average of the top five player contract wages for the current league year. A player can only play for a new team the next season if his current team trades him.

Which players have received the franchise tag?

Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals WR

L’Jarius Sneed, Kansas City Chiefs CB

What are the NFL franchise tag positional values for 2024?

Quarterback: $38.301 million
Running back: $11.951 million
Wide receiver: $21.816 million
Tight end: $12.693 million
Offensive line: $20.985 million
Defensive end: $21.324 million
Defensive tackle: $22.102 million
Linebacker: $24.007 million
Cornerback: $19.802 million
Safety: $17.123 million
Punter/kicker: $5.984 million

Notable players who will likely be franchise-tagged

  • Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr.
  • Jaguars OLB Josh Allen
  • Chiefs CB L’Jarius Sneed
  • Raiders RB Josh Jacobs (franchise tagged last year)
  • Giants RB Saquon Barkley (franchise tagged last year)
  • Bears CB Jaylon Johnson
  • Panthers OLB Brian Burns

NFL franchise tag deadline 2024

  • Date: Tuesday, March 5

A team has the option to sign a player to a long-term deal even if they decide to tag the player. For instance, QB Lamar Jackson was given the franchise tag by the Ravens in 2023, but a five-year contract was eventually worked out.

Nonetheless, those players will have to spend the entire year on the tag if a new agreement is not reached by July 15. They will not be allowed to play for any other team for the duration of the season if they refuse to sign the tag.

Of course, other players like offensive lineman Mike Onwenu and linebacker Kyle Dugger of New England, pass rusher Bryce Huff of the New York Jets, and pass rusher Chase Young of San Francisco may also be tagged. These players are less likely to get tagged, though, for various reasons (money, maybe, or the fact that the player did not have the breakout season the team was looking for).

NFL franchise-tagged players

2023

Player Position Team
Saquon Barkley RB Giants
Lamar Jackson QB Ravens
Tony Pollard RB Cowboys
Josh Jacobs RB Raiders
Evan Engram TE Jaguars
Daron Payne DT Commanders

2022

Player Position Team
Chris Godwin WR Buccaneers
Cam Robinson OT Jaguars
Davante Adams WR Packers
Dalton Schultz TE Cowboys
Orlando Brown OT Chiefs
Jessie Bates III S Bengals
David Njoku TE Browns
Mike Gesicki TE Dolphins

How many times can a team franchise tag a player in the NFL?

Teams are only permitted to tag a player with the franchise tag three times. If someone is tagged that frequently, it may be very profitable even if it can also hinder their future.

If a player is tagged for the second straight season, they will be required to pay out 120% of their income from the first season. A player would earn at least 144% of their prior year’s compensation for a third consecutive year. Thus, a player’s cost increases with the number of tags they receive from a club.

 

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