The franchise tag is a strategic tool used by NFL teams to prevent key players from leaving in free agency. It comes in two main forms: the exclusive tag and the non-exclusive tag.
This mechanism allows a team to retain a player who is set to become an unrestricted free agent by offering them a one-year contract, giving both sides more time to negotiate a long-term deal.
Franchise tags have a set value for each position group, with quarterbacks franchise tags having significant higher value than a running backs franchise tag.
The window to make a tag offer begins 22 days before the start of the league year, and lasts for 14 days. Teams have the ability to rescind a tag offer as long as the tag remains unsigned. Once an offer is accepted and a tag is officially signed, that deal becomes fully guaranteed.
Exclusive Franchise Tag
The exclusive franchise tag is the less common of the two options. When a player receives this tag, they are given a fully guaranteed one-year contract. The salary is determined by the average of the top five salaries at their position for the current year or 120% of their previous year's salary, whichever is higher.
Crucially, a player under the exclusive tag is prohibited from negotiating with any other NFL team.
Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag
Under the non-exclusive franchise tag, the player also receives a guaranteed one-year contract with the same salary structure as the exclusive tag. However, the key difference is that the player is free to negotiate with other franchises.
If the player agrees to a contract with a new team, their original team has the right to match the offer and keep him. If they choose not to match, they receive two first-round draft picks from the signing team as compensation.
In both franchise tag scenarios, the team and player have until July 15 to agree on a long-term contract. If no deal is reached by the deadline, the player must play the season on the one-year tag contract. Each franchise is permitted to use only one franchise tag per offseason.
Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag Values by Position
Quarterback | $43,895,000 |
Wide Receiver | $27,298,000 |
Defensive Tackle | $27,127,000 |
Linebacker | $26,865,000 |
Offensive Line | $25,773,000 |
Defensive End | $24,434,000 |
Cornerback | $21,161,000 |
Safety | $20,149,000 |
Tight End | $15,045,000 |
Running Back | $14,293,000 |
Kicker or Punter | $6,649,000 |
The Transition Tag
A third option, known as the transition tag, also exists. It functions similarly to the non-exclusive franchise tag, allowing the player to negotiate with other teams while giving the original franchise the right to match any offer.
The main distinction is that if the team decides not to match an offer from another club, it receives no draft pick compensation in return.
Transition Tag Values by Position
Quarterback | $37,833,000 |
Wide Receiver | $23,852,000 |
Defensive Tackle | $22,521,000 |
Linebacker | $21,925,000 |
Offensive Line | $23,392,000 |
Defensive End | $21,512,000 |
Cornerback | $18,119,000 |
Safety | $16,012,000 |
Tight End | $12,687,000 |
Running Back | $11,323,000 |
Kicker or Punter | $6,005,000 |
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