Franchise FAQ

how do franchise tags work

by Sigurd Casper Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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How does the franchise tag work? A franchise tag is basically a tool used to acquire one year of service when a team has failed, or needs more time, to work out a contract extension with one of their pending unrestricted free agents. After placing the tag on a player the team has a specific window to work out a long-term contract.

The franchise tag is a designation that allows NFL teams to select one player set to be an unrestricted free agent and guarantees another year under contract if certain conditions are met. Each team receives one franchise tag per year and can be applied as either exclusive or non-exclusive.Mar 7, 2022

Full Answer

What is the franchise tag and how does it work?

The franchise tag is essentially a one-year contract that guarantees a predetermined salary for players who are set to become unrestricted free agents. The salary amount is set by the averaging the top five salaries by position for the previous league year, or if it’s higher, 120 percent of the player’s salary the previous season.

What does it mean to be the "franchise tag"?

For those unaware, the franchise tag refers to an agreement between a player and their current franchise. If a team has a franchise player that is a free agent with an expiring contract, they can retain that player by placing a tag on them. The franchise tag option consists of a one-year contract that guarantees a non-negotiable salary for players.

How many franchise tags per team?

The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. Each team has one franchise tag (of either the exclusive or non-exclusive forms) and one transition tag per year.

What is the meaning of franchise tag mean in the NFL?

In the National Football League (NFL), the franchise tag is a designation a team may apply to a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent . The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. Each team only has one franchise tag (of either the exclusive or non-exclusive forms) and one transition tag per year.

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How much does a franchise tag pay?

A franchise-tagged player receives a salary that is determined either by finding the average of the top five salaries at the player's position or by calculating 120% of the player's current salary. The player gets whichever is higher.

Can a player refuse the franchise tag?

The only real option for a player to refuse the franchise tag is to sit out the year with no pay.

Is the franchise tag fully guaranteed?

In basic terms, the franchise tag can be explained as follows: it is a fully guaranteed one-year contract teams use to keep one of their unrestricted free agents from hitting the open market. Ideally, the use of the tag buys a club more time to reach a long-term contract with its franchise player.

How many times can you be franchise tagged?

The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. Each team has one franchise tag (of either the exclusive or non-exclusive forms) and one transition tag per year.

Was davante Adams franchise tag?

The NFL announced Monday that the 2022 franchise tag number for wide receivers -- the amount the Packers would be required to offer Adams in a one-year deal -- was $18.419 million.

Who is the highest paid NFL player?

1. Aaron Rodgers, $50.2 millionAaron Rodgers, $50.2 million. Signed: March 2022 (contract ends in 2026)Russell Wilson (DEN), $49 million.Kyler Murray (ARI), $46.1 million.Deshaun Watson (CLE), $46 million.Patrick Mahomes (KC), $45 million.

Why do NFL players not like the franchise tag?

The most common explanation for why players hate the franchise tag is the lack of security it offers compared with a long-term deal.

What happens if a franchise tagged player gets hurt?

The Franchise Tag should include an injury clause that states, "If the player has a carreer ending injury during a Franchise Tagged year they are owed that same contract amount for the next 3 years." Since the Franchise Tag is taking away from the player's ability to achieve a standard 4 year big contract.

Can an NFL player refuse to play?

Due to those money issues, a lot of NFL players will refuse to play unless they are properly paid. While money isn't the only reason why players refuse to play for their teams, it is the major reason that many of these NFL greats refused to take the field.

Why does the franchise tag exist?

The franchise tag was implemented in 1993 in order to ease the transition into an open market as the NFL finally adopted free agency.

Who has been franchise tagged 2022?

Who was franchise tagged in 2022?Cam Robinson, Jaguars – signed three-year, $54 million extension.Chris Godwin, Buccaneers – signed three-year, $60 million extension.David Njoku, Browns – signed four-year, $56.75 million extension.Davante Adams, Packers – traded to Raiders, signed five-year, $140 million extension.

How much is quarterback franchise tag?

$29.703 millionThe Miami Dolphins used their franchise tag on Mike Gesicki. The tag for tight ends is $10.931 million....The following are the figures for non-exclusive franchise tags in 2022:PositionFranchise tag figureQuarterback$29.703 millionRunning back$9.570 millionWide receiver$18.419 millionTight end$10.931 million7 more rows•Mar 7, 2022

Can davante Adams refuse the franchise tag?

Davante Adams has every right to refuse playing under the franchise tag.

Why don t NFL players want the franchise tag?

The tag has become nothing more than a negotiation ploy. Players hit with the exclusive tag can still work out long-term deals with their respective teams, but they do not get to participate in free agency and thus have less leverage in contract negotiations.

Can a player decline a draft pick?

If the player truly does not want to join the team that drafted him, he will have the option, in theory, of holding out and re-entering the draft the following year. This option, however, could mark him for other possible suitors as someone with an attitude problem, and also cost the NFL hopeful a year's salary.

Can you trade a player that is franchise tagged?

Unlike those who get the non-exclusive tag, an exclusive tagged player can't negotiate with other teams.

What is the PYS tag?

One thing that comes into play when it comes to a franchise tag is the player's salary from the year before. This is called the Prior Year Salary (PYS), which consists of base salary, roster and reporting bonuses, prorated signing bonus and other payments to players for playing in the NFL from the year before.

What happens when you get a non-exclusive NFL tag?

When an NFL player receives a non-exclusive franchise tag, they are free to negotiate with any NFL franchise. The non-exclusive franchise tag is broken down into two separate options. An NFL player will receive a one-year deal with a salary greater than these two options:

Why do NFL teams use franchise tags?

The NFL franchise tag is made to help teams limit the mobility of a player that is expected to hit the free agency market. NFL teams have the opportunity to use the franchise tag on both, restricted and unrestricted free agents. According to the new NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the league and the National Football League ...

What are the different types of NFL franchise tags?

There is a non-exclusive, exclusive, and a transition tag. All three types of franchise tags can be pulled off the table at any time before it is signed by a player.

How long does a team have to match a non-exclusive franchise tag?

If the player that has a non-exclusive franchise tag agrees to an offer from another team, then their current team has five days to match that offer. If the original team decides not to match the offer then they will receive a compensation draft package that is equivalent to two first-round picks.

How long does it take for a player to match a draft offer?

If a player agrees to a deal with another NFL team, their current team has five days to match the offer. The kicker to the transition tag is that if the original team refuses to match the other team's offer, no draft compensation comes their way.

What is Option 2?

Option 2: The amount of the non-exclusive franchise tag.

How does franchise tag work in NFL?

The franchise tag allows teams to lock up a top free agent for one season. Some free agents want to cash in with massive, long-term contracts filled, including guaranteed money.

Why do teams use tag?

If teams aren't ready to commit to that type of deal, the tag gives them more time to work out a long-term extension, or evaluate a given player's value for another season.

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

How many times can a team franchise tag a player in the NFL? Players can be tagged in consecutive years, but it's costly. For a player to be franchise tagged two straight years, the team must pay 120 percent of the player's previous salary. If it's three straight years, the team must pay the player 144 percent of his previous salary.

What does a transition tag pay?

Transition tags pay a player the average of the 10 highest-paid players at his position. A tagged player is allowed to negotiate with other teams. The player’s current team can match any offer given to a transition-tagged player, but the team will not be given compensation if it decides not to match.

How long does a tagged player have to play for the team?

Teams have until July 15 to reach a long-term contract with a tagged player. If no agreement can be reached by then, the player will play on a one-year contract.

What are the different types of tags?

There are three types of tags: non-exclusive, exclusive and transition tags.

When does free agency start in the NFL?

The heart of 2019 NFL free agency starts March 11, when teams can begin meeting and negotiating with representatives of free agents. But it really begins, in earnest, when the window opens for teams to use franchise or transitional tags on players in 2019. Top 2019 NFL free agents like Demarcus Lawrence and Jadeveon Clowney could be candidates ...

Who received the franchise tag in 2019?

All but Lawrence wound up being traded after being tagged, and only Clowney failed to use his tag as a springboard to a long-term contract last offseason. Kicker Robbie Gould and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett were also given the franchise tag in 2019. Each signed a lucrative contract extension later that summer.

How many times can a franchise tag be used?

With the salary cap climbing to an estimated $200 million, here are the reported salaries for each position under the franchise tag in 2020: Teams can usually only use the tag once per year. There are three different types of tags a team can assign.

How often can teams use tags?

Teams can usually only use the tag once per year. There are three different types of tags a team can assign.

Why don't teams use the tag?

Teams don’t want to use the tag because it ties up a huge chunk of their salary cap for just one year. The players don’t like it because they don’t have any financial security beyond that one year, and have almost no leverage outside of threatening to hold out.

How much does Drake cost the Cardinals?

Still, using the transition tag to make that happen is surprising. It’ll likely cost the Cardinals around $8.5 million in 2020, making Drake among the top 10 highest paid running backs in the league.

What is a franchise tag?

The franchise tag is essentially a one-year contract that guarantees a predetermined salary for players. The salary amount is set by the averaging the top five salaries by position for the previous league year, or if it’s higher, 120 percent of a player’s salary the previous season. So players like quarterbacks and defensive ends will have a much higher tag salary than positions like kicker or punter.

What happens when a player gets transition tagged?

Once a player gets tagged, that’s when the real drama begins. Both sides have until mid-July to negotiate a long-term contract.

What is the franchise tag?

The franchise tag is essentially a one-year contract that guarantees a predetermined salary for players who are set to become unrestricted free agents. The salary amount is set by the averaging the top five salaries by position for the previous league year, or if it’s higher, 120 percent of the player’s salary the previous season.

Types of NFL franchise tags

Exclusive - On the “exclusive” franchise tag players cannot negotiate with other teams and are locked into the contract once it is applied.

How does the franchise tag work?

A franchise tag is basically a tool used to acquire one year of service when a team has failed, or needs more time, to work out a contract extension with one of their pending unrestricted free agents. After placing the tag on a player the team has a specific window to work out a long-term contract.

2 franchise tag candidates for the Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys last used the franchise tag on Dak Prescott in 2020 and the year prior on DeMarcus Lawrence in 2019. Both times they utilized the tag in order to buy them a little extra time to work out a long-term extension and could do the same in 2022, although it’s unlikely. But, they do have two potential candidates.

What is the difference between a transition tag and a franchise tag?

While the NFL franchise tag guarantees that a team will retain a player’s rights, the transition tag allows for more wriggle room.

What is the NFL franchise tag?

Introduced in 1993, the NFL franchise tag serves as a way for teams to retain the rights of a player set to become an unrestricted free agent.

What are the drawbacks of the NFL franchise tag system?

The highest figure out of those three options provides the player with a substantial payday. However, the absence of long-term financial security stands out as the main drawback of the NFL franchise tag system…at least from a player’s perspective.

Why do NFL teams have free agency?

However, thanks to the franchise tag, NFL teams do have the ability to keep a coveted commodity under team control for at least one more season.

How much does a player get for signing a transition tender?

An NFL player who signs a transition tender receives a one-year salary equal to the cap percentage average of the 10 largest prior-year salaries for players at the position at which he participated in the most plays .

How long does a player get paid for a franchise tender?

Per the CBA, if a player receives a non-exclusive franchise tender, he will get paid a one-year contract based on the average of the five largest prior-year salaries for players at the position at which he participated in the most plays.

When does the transition tag end?

According to the CBA, the transition tag period begins on the 22nd day preceding the first day of the new league year and ends at 4 p.m. EST on the eighth day preceding the new league year.

How Many Times Can a Player Be Franchise Tagged?

A player can be franchise tagged three times by the same team. Due to the significant hike in pay in the second and third tags, many teams don’t tag the same player more than once.

Can You Trade a Franchise Tagged Player?

Well, yes and no. It depends on the nature of the contract and whether or not the player agrees. This is why there are deadlines and even some pressure for one side of the contract to cave in to the other’s demands, no matter if it’s the team or the player.

Is Getting Franchise Tagged Good or Bad?

Some players and teams use the tag to agree on long-term contracts before the deadline. Other players don’t mind getting tagged if the team is showing some success or wants an increase in salary.

What Is an Exclusive Franchise Tag?

Exclusive franchise tags, in comparison to non-exclusive, means that the player has to stick with the team. The player cannot negotiate with another team after the current team places a tag on them. The pay for this type of tag can be a little more, as many teams use it on star performers in highly-valued positions, which cost more on average in general.

What Is a Transition Tag?

A transition tag is a lot like the non-exclusive franchise tag in many ways, but the pay is measured a little differently. Not to mention, the team doesn’t receive any compensation if they decide not to match an offer. Transition tags are a little more confusing, so we’ll try to keep it as simple as possible.

What is the franchise tag?

In basic terms, the franchise tag can be explained as follows: it is a fully guaranteed one-year contract teams use to keep one of their unrestricted free agents from hitting the open market.

When is the franchise tag window?

As specified in Article 10 of the NFL-NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement, the franchise tag window opens exactly 22 days before the start of the new league year. It will close again two weeks later:

How much does franchise-tagging a player cost?

The final numbers have not yet been announced by the NFL. With the salary cap expected to be set at $208.2 million, however, the following numbers are projected for the franchise and transition tags this year ( via Over the Cap ):

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