How does the NFL franchise tag work? How teams think about players to tag
New York TimesEvery NFL offseason, star players from around the league have their names thrown around in contract conversations they can’t necessarily control. There are the two types of franchise tags: Exclusive tags prohibit a player from negotiating with another team and guarantee the player a salary based on the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position during that current year, or for 120 percent of the player’s previous salary, whichever number is higher. The salary on a non-exclusive tag is determined by the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position from the previous five years applied to the current salary cap, or for 120 percent of the player’s previous salary, whichever number is higher. Franchise tags differ from the rarely used transition tag, which are used on unrestricted free agents and gives teams the right of first refusal to match any offer a transition tagged player receives from another team. The tag gets more expensive with each use, as a player is guaranteed at least 120 percent of his previous year’s salary when tagged a second time.
History of this topic
Only 2 NFL players get the franchise tag after the Vikings let Sam Darnold hit the market
Associated Press
NFL franchise tags increase with a record-high salary cap
Associated Press
NFL free agency explained from salary cap and tampering to franchise and transition tags
Associated Press
NFL franchise tag winners and losers: Baker Mayfield, good news for RBs and more
New York Times
Five options for Josh Jacobs, Raiders with NFL franchise tag window open
New York Times
What is an NFL franchise tag? The difference between exclusive and non-exclusive tags
New York Times
Lamar Jackson and Saquon Barkley get franchise tagged. Tom Brady gets a kitten
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