Tuesday was the deadline for NFL teams to choose which free agents on their roster to tag and retain from being signed by other teams.
Eight players were given a franchise or transition tag, allowing teams more time to negotiate long-term contracts.
This process has been in place since 1993, but some players have been tagged multiple times without reaching a deal.
Teams have the option of three types of tags, each with different costs and restrictions.
The Arizona Cardinals did not tag wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, giving them a week to work out a contract before free agency begins.
The exclusive franchise tag requires the player to be paid no less than the average of the top five salaries at their position or 120% of their previous salary, with no negotiations allowed.
The non-exclusive franchise tag also guarantees a one-year contract with similar payment terms but allows negotiations with other teams.
If the player receives an offer, the current team has the chance to match it, otherwise receiving two first-round draft picks from the signing team.
The transition tag offers a one-year tender for the average of the top 10 salaries at the player’s position, with the original team having the right of first refusal to match any offers.
The NFL offseason is entering an intriguing phase, with expiring contracts and negotiations for new deals.
The franchise tag gives clubs priority over their players, either through exclusive negotiating rights or matching rights.
Candidates for this season’s tags include Tee Higgins, Brian Burns, Christian Wilkins, Michael Pittman Jr., and Josh Allen.
Although franchise tags have become more prominent, their usage is declining, with only six tags given out last year.
Teams are limited to one franchise tag per offseason, choosing from the exclusive, non-exclusive, or transition options.
A franchise tag in the NFL is a one-year contract given to a player by a team. There are two types of franchise tags: non-exclusive and exclusive.
The non-exclusive franchise tag is the most common tag used. It allows the player to negotiate with other teams, but if the player signs with a new team, the original team receives two first-round draft picks as compensation.
The cost of the non-exclusive tag is either 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary or the average of the five largest salaries at the player’s position, whichever is greater.
On the other hand, the exclusive franchise tag is less common and is only used for players who are expected to have a high market value. With this tag, the player cannot negotiate with other teams.
The cost of the exclusive tag is the average of the five largest salaries for that year or the amount of the non-exclusive tag, whichever is greater.
In recent years, only a few players have been given the exclusive franchise tag. This tag is used when a team believes that a player is too valuable to risk losing in free agency.
If a player is given the exclusive franchise tag, they cannot become a free agent unless they are traded by their current team.
The price tag for the player is limited to either the average of the five largest salaries or the amount of the non-exclusive tag, if it is larger.
The transition tag is a designation that allows NFL clubs to retain the rights to one player who would otherwise be an unrestricted free agent.
The designated player is free to negotiate and sign a contract with any club from the first day of the league year following the expiration of his previous contract to July 22.
The designated club has the right of first refusal but does not receive any compensation if the player signs with another team.
The transition tag is determined by the average of the ten largest salaries at the player’s position or 120 percent of his previous season’s salary, whichever is higher.
The player can negotiate with other teams and can sign an offer sheet. If his current team cannot match the offer, he can sign with the new team without compensation.
The deadline for placing the franchise tag in 2024 was Tuesday, March 5 at 4 p.m. ET. If a team uses the franchise tag, they can still negotiate a long-term extension with the player.
If a deal is not reached by July 15, the player must play under the tag for the season or sit out entirely.
Teams can use the franchise tag on a player up to three times. Each consecutive year increases the salary owed to the player.
The value of the franchise tag is based on the average of the top five salaries at the position over the past five years, adjusted for the salary cap.
The non-exclusive franchise tag value for every non-special team’s position is above $11 million.
The exclusive tag values will be determined after the restricted free agency period.
Overall, the franchise tag allows teams to retain key players, but it comes with certain limitations and costs.
