what does franchise tag mean in the nfl

Full Answer

Why do NFL players dislike the franchise tag?

Why do NFL players hate the Franchise Tag?

1. What is it? The franchise tag is given to a player who will otherwise become an unrestricted free agent. ...
2. Why do players hate getting franchised? They don’t get paid what they’re worth. ...
3. There are no guarantees beyond a 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.

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 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 does the NFL calculate the franchise tag?

The NFL starts by calculating a "franchise tag" amount for each of the prior five years. The franchise tag amount is the average of the top five salaries at each position for each year. Then the NFL adds up the last five franchise tag amounts and divides them by the prior five total salary-cap amounts.

What is a franchise tag?

The franchise tag is when a franchise and a player cannot agree on a long-term deal but they like the player enough to keep them. The one-year deal – which allows them to continue negotiations – is either an average of the top 5 salaries at that position or 120% of their previous salary. There are more stipulations to the agreement but these are the basics.

What happens when a player hits the market as an unrestricted free agent?

So what may happen is as the time comes for a player to hit the market as an unrestricted free agent, the team will put a franchise tag on that player. This binds that player to the team he’s been on for a season. For that tag, for one season that player will earn either an average of the annual salary of the top 5 players at his position from the previous season, or 120% of his salary for the last season, whichever is greater.

What is a tag option in the NFL?

The tag options allow NFL franchises an extended bargaining period for a player that they feel is key to their success. Usually reserved for players of great skill or of high importance to the team, a franchise tag allows a team's general manager the privilege of strategically retaining valuable free-agent players while seeking talent through the NFL draft or other acquisitions without exceeding the League's salary cap.

How does a franchise work?

The short version is every team has the right to Franchise one player on a yearly basis. That player then belongs to the team. It’s done with Free Agents so that they can’t leave. That player then must be paid the average of the 5 highest paid players at that position. Same holds true if you tag the same player the following year. You can only tag the same player 3 years in a row which has never been doe due to the fact that the third time there is an escalator clause built in that is the 5 highest paid at that position plus a 50% escalator. I believe that’s the number. It’s never happened and it likely never will.

What is a non-exclusive franchise tag?

The non-exclusive franchise tag allows that player to receive offers from other teams. The team putting the tag on him has the right to match any offer given by an outside team. If they decide not to match the offer, they are entitled to two first round picks as compensation for the player. Team A has a player who wants more than you really want to pay them. But the talent is such that you know someone will pay them that money. And you have another player on your roster who you feel will take that person’s place. You give them the non-exclusive tag. You want to re-sign them, but if you can’t in good faith or don’t want to equal the offer, at least you get something for them.

How many types of franchise tag are there?

There are two types of franchise tag, but both require the same money.