Franchise FAQ

what does a franchise tag mean in football

by Dr. Maryam Schowalter DDS Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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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

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 a NFL franchise tag, 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.

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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Can a player refuse a franchise tag?

Can a player refuse a franchise tag? The tag is unpopular among some players who hope to get a large contract right away. Players don't have the official option to refuse, but some have resisted the tag in the past by refusing to sign and missing offseason training and the season.

Is it good to be franchise tagged in the NFL?

The player's guaranteed salary for that one season is attractive, but such a tag provides the player no long-term security. A franchise tag still leaves room for negotiation on a long-term contract. The NFL's deadline in 2022 for teams and tagged players to agree upon and sign a multi-year extension remains July 15.

How much is a franchise tag in the NFL?

If a team applies the franchise tag to a player in back-to-back years, they're agreeing to pay the athlete 120% of their salary the year before.

How much is franchise tag for QB?

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

Why do NFL players not like franchise tag?

Why do NFL players hate the franchise tag? Not all players hate it but most do. The reason they hate it is because it forces them to stay for a fixed price instead of negotiating a contract or leaving the team for somewhere else.

Why does the NFL have a franchise tag?

The tag option allows NFL franchises to retain a "franchise player" who is valuable to a franchise. The one-year, guaranteed contract that is offered to the player is a known, non-negotiated salary.

Can a franchise tagged player be traded?

No, they cannot be traded. In order for the player to be traded, they would have to be on a contract and be put on the active roster list. Since a franchise player is technically a free agent that is bound by the original team, they are not considered a “signed player”.

Are franchise tag fully guaranteed?

The player may sign his one-year franchise offer, at which point it becomes fully guaranteed (unless the player fails to stay physically fit).

What is a franchise tag?

A franchise tag is a guaranteed contract for a player, which is not always the case for Football Players. For example, sometimes players get cut from teams, which means they lose out on a portion of their contract salary. One player that took three consecutive franchise tags was Kirk Cousins, who then signed a massive deal with the Minnesota Vikings after his time with the Washington Football team.

What are the different types of franchise tags?

A team can use three types of franchise tags: exclusive, non-exclusive, and transition tag to retain a player for one season. Each of these tags has its pros and cons for teams and players. Below is the breakdown between each of these tags with an explanation as to how they are different.

How Many Times Can a Tagged Player be Franchised?

A player in the NFL can be franchised up to three consecutive times by a team. However, each time you franchise a player, their salary goes up each time to retain them. For example, if you franchise your wide receiver three times in a row, you can expect to pay them more for that third year compared to that first year in a franchise tag.

How to calculate non exclusive franchise tag?

First, you sum up the franchise tag of the previous five years by position. Next, you sum up the salary cap of the last five years and divide that number into the sum of position number. After that, you then multiply that number against the current salary cap.

How many franchise tags can a team use?

Each team can only use one franchise or transition tag each season. A franchise tag becomes a bit complicated because a team can retain an NFL player in three ways.

What is the difference between exclusive and non-exclusive franchise tag?

a non-exclusive franchise tag comes down to the money. You take the average five salaries by a position during an exclusive franchise tag and give that to the player. For example, you would look at the average wage of all Quarterbacks in the league, which will be that player’s salary if they were a QB.

Why is the NFL offseason a chess game?

Due to the contract negotiations, the NFL offseason becomes a chess match between a team, a player, and the player’s agent every season. A team wants to retain players at the best value against their salary cap, while the player and agent want to make the most money with how they perform on the field. Sometimes, when both sides run out of time to make a deal, a team will franchise tag a player.

What is the meaning of the franchise tag?

The meaning of the franchise tag (and the transition tag) is just that: It's a mechanism teams are allowed to use to keep "franchise" designated players off the unrestricted or restricted free-agency markets.

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

(Kirk Cousins can tell you all about it .) 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.

Why do teams tag players?

Because the franchise tag is a tool used by teams to lock players into one-year deals, players generally don't like being tagged. The positive for the players who are tagged is that the one-year deals are guaranteed, and the salaries represent the average of the top five highest-paid players at their positions (if not more). The player's guaranteed salary for that one season is attractive, but such a tag provides the player no long-term security.

What are the different types of tags in the NFL?

There are three types of tags teams could use between Feb. 27 and March 16 — non-exclusive franchise tags, exclusive franchise tags and transition tags. Below are the definitions and rules for all three. (All definitions and rules are from Article 10 of the current NFL/NFLPA collective bargaining agreement.)

How are franchise tenders calculated?

Per OTC, "franchise and transition tenders are calculated by adding the respective tag numbers, divided by the sum of the salary caps, from the previous five seasons, and finally multiplied by the current season's salary cap."

How long is an NFL franchise tender?

Definition and rules: The exclusive franchise tender shall be a one-year NFL player contract for ...

How long is a non-exclusive NFL tender?

Definition and rules: The non-exclusive franchise tender shall be a one-year NFL player contract for ...

How Do They Work?

A franchise tag works as a one year contract that the player must sign if they want to play football in the coming season. Additionally, the player and team are not able to negotiate the pay for this one year contract.

The Three Ways To Tag A Player

The non-exclusive franchise tag is the most commonly used way to tag players in the NFL.

How Many Times Can A Player Be Tagged?

Though it happens very rarely a player can be franchised tagged up to three times. This means hypothetically a team could force one of their star players to play on a one year contract three years in a row.

Can A Player Refuse A Franchise Tag

Technically speaking each player that is given the franchise tag has an option to refuse it though that means they would have to miss the football season.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

What is a franchise tag?

Franchise tag. 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.

Why do teams use franchise tags?

The franchise tag provides General Managers and Owners a strategic way to manage salary costs and limit exposure to the financial risks associated with a long-term contract. Unsurprisingly, many designated players have criticized the use of the franchise tag by teams when it restricts their perceived ability to negotiate a more lucrative contract.

How long does a non-exclusive NFL player have to be on a contract?

A "non-exclusive" franchise player must be offered a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five cap hits at the player's position for the previous five years applied to the current salary cap, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. A non-exclusive franchise player may negotiate with other NFL teams, but if the player signs an offer sheet from another team, the original team has a right to match the terms of that offer, or if it does not match the offer and thus loses the player, is entitled to receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.

What is tag option in NFL?

The tag option allows NFL franchises to retain a "franchise player" who is valuable to a franchise. The one-year, guaranteed contract that is offered to the player is a known, non-negotiated salary.

How long does it take for a club to match after a player's contract expires?

A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives no compensation.

Can a team use a transition tag?

The transition tag can only be used if the team does not use a franchise tag ; however, Article 10 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed in 2011 stipulates that, in the Final League Year, teams are allowed to use both the franchise tag and transition tag for the 2020 NFL season.

Can a non-exclusive NFL player negotiate with other NFL teams?

A non-exclusive franchise player may negotiate with other NFL teams, but if the player signs an offer sheet from another team, the original team has a right to match the terms of that offer, or if it does not match the offer and thus loses the player, is entitled to receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.

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.

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.

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 happens if you don't match a free agent offer?

Non-exclusive. The player is allowed to negotiate with other teams, but if a competing team makes a free agent offer, the original team has the right to match it. If they don’t match the offer, they get two first-round picks in compensation. In other words, this is basically a convoluted trade scenario.

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