NFL Teams Utilize Franchise Tag to Secure Top Talent
As the NFL offseason unfolds, all 32 teams are embarking on a quest to retain their most prized free agents. Central to this endeavor is the franchise tag, a potent tool that enables teams to reclaim star players and fortify their rosters for the upcoming season.
Understanding the Franchise Tag Dynamics
Each offseason, NFL franchises have the option to prevent their elite players from entering the open market by utilizing the franchise tag on one player. This strategy has been a recurring tactic in past years, allowing teams to exercise exclusive negotiation or matching rights over their players. By offering a high-salary, one-year contract, teams can retain their talent for an additional season, aiming to extend their championship window or facilitate long-term contract negotiations.
In the 2025 NFL offseason, notable players like Bengals’ Tee Higgins, Vikings’ Sam Darnold, Chiefs’ Trey Smith, and Dolphins’ Jevon Holland are potential candidates for the franchise tag, showcasing the significance of this mechanism in reshaping team rosters.
The Franchise Tag Arsenal
The franchise tag landscape comprises three distinct types: exclusive, non-exclusive, and transition tags, with teams limited to applying only one tag per offseason. Each tag variant confers unique advantages and implications, serving as a critical strategic tool for teams navigating the offseason roster adjustments.
Deciphering the Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag
The non-exclusive franchise tag entails offering a one-year player contract based on the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position over the previous years. This tag empowers teams to match offers from other franchises while imposing a cost that is 120 percent of the player’s previous season’s salary. In the absence of a matching offer, the tagging team receives two first-round draft picks if the player departs.
Unraveling the Exclusive Franchise Tag
Conversely, the exclusive franchise tag binds a player to their team without engaging in open market negotiations. The player’s salary is pegged to the average of the top five salaries for that league year or the non-exclusive tag amount if higher. This tag, rarely deployed, signifies a team’s commitment to retaining a player with immense market value without committing to a long-term extension.
Diving into the Transition Tag Territory
The transition tag, a less common strategy, grants a player the freedom to negotiate with other teams while affording the current team the right of first refusal. The player’s salary is determined by the cap percentage average of the top ten salaries at the position or 120 percent of the previous season’s salary. Notably, a player under the transition tag can depart without draft pick compensation if the current team declines to match the offer.
Navigating the Franchise Tag Deadline
Teams must finalize their franchise tag decisions by Tuesday, March 4, signaling the commencement of a pivotal phase in the offseason. While the franchise tag offers short-term security, it also prompts negotiations for long-term extensions before the July 15 deadline. Failure to reach an agreement compels tagged players to play out the season under the tag, limiting their flexibility in seeking alternative team options.
Strategic Deployment of the Franchise Tag
The franchise tag strategy presents teams with a delicate balance between retaining key players and managing financial constraints. With the ability to tag a player up to three times, teams must weigh the escalating costs against the player’s value, fostering a dynamic negotiation environment that shapes the league’s competitive landscape.
Evaluating Franchise Tag Values for 2025
The financial implications of the franchise tag vary across positions, with the tag value contingent on the average salaries at the player’s position over the past five years. In 2025, the non-exclusive tag values extend beyond $13 million for all non-special teams positions, reflecting the evolving market dynamics and positional valuations in the NFL.
Notable Franchise Tag Recipients
Over the years, several prominent players have been tagged, underscoring the strategic significance of this mechanism in retaining top talent. From quarterbacks to defensive ends, the franchise tag has been instrumental in reshaping team rosters and sustaining competitive advantages in the league.
In conclusion, the franchise tag serves as a pivotal tool for NFL teams to secure top talent, navigate roster dynamics, and sustain competitiveness in an ever-evolving league landscape. As teams embark on this strategic journey, the franchise tag emerges as a symbol of stability, negotiation, and strategic foresight in the realm of professional football.
