What Is The NFL Franchise Tag And How Does It Work?

The 2023 NFL season is in the review mirror, meaning it’s time to focus on the offseason. While the NFL Draft is the most talked about offseason event, free agency plays a massive role in shaping rosters for next year.

Before free agency can begin, teams can re-sign their players before they hit the open market. Sometimes, the team and player can agree to a long-term contract that makes both sides happy. However, there is always another option if things don’t work out.

That other option is the franchise tag. While many fans believe the franchise tag is unfair to players, it has been part of the collective bargaining agreement for a long time.

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What Is The NFL Franchise Tag?

The franchise tag is a one-year deal that every team can use once per offseason. The franchise tag keeps that player from hitting the open market, giving the team more time to negotiate a long-term contract. Starting tomorrow through March 5, every NFL team can place the franchise tag on one upcoming free agent.

Starting Tuesday and lasting through Tuesday, March 5, NFL teams can designate franchise or transition players. Tag candidates include:

🏈LB Josh Allen
🏈RB Saquon Barkley
🏈DE Brian Burns
🏈S Kyle Dugger
🏈WR Tee Higgins
🏈RB Josh Jacobs
🏈CB Jaylon Johnson
🏈DT Justin… pic.twitter.com/nAVdkOut9h

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 18, 2024

Most years, only a handful of teams use the franchise tag. Many players aren’t talented enough to command the franchise tag, given the price to use it. The contract is for one year and pays the player as one of the highest at their position. Therefore, teams rarely use it unless backed into a corner with negotiations.

There are two types of franchise tag – the exclusive and non-exclusive. The exclusive tag is slightly more expensive to use. However, it keeps the player from communicating with any other team.

Meanwhile, the non-exclusive tag allows the player to negotiate with other teams about a long-term contract. However, the original team can match the contract or receive two first-round NFL Draft picks from the new team in exchange for the player.

How Does The NFL Franchise Tag Work?

Every position has a different price when it comes to the franchise tag. The quarterback position is the most expensive every year. It will cost a team over $36 million to use the franchise tag on a quarterback this offseason. Meanwhile, using the franchise tag on a running back only costs a team $11.3 million in salary cap space.

Once the team places the franchise tag on a player, they have until mid-July to negotiate a long-term deal. Once the franchise tag negotiating window passes in July, that player must spend the 2024 season playing on the tag and can’t sign a long-term contract until after the year.

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