What Is the NFL Franchise Tag?

The NFL franchise tag is a designation that a team can apply to a player who is set to become an unrestricted free agent. The tag binds the player to the team for one year, during which he will be paid the average salary of the top five players at his position.

Introduction

In professional football, the franchise tag is a tool used by teams to retain their best players from year to year. It guarantees the player a one-year contract worth the average salary of the top five players at his position, or 120 percent of his previous year’s salary – whichever is greater. The team has the option to use the tag on one player each season.

The franchise tag was created in 1993 as part of the first collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and its players. It was designed to give teams a way to keep their star players while also giving those players a chance to test the free-agent market and potentially land a bigger contract.

In recent years, the franchise tag has become increasingly unpopular with both players and fans. Many believe it takes away a player’s freedom to sign with another team, while others argue that it inflates salaries and prevents young players from getting a chance to prove themselves.

The NFL franchise tag is set to expire in 2020, but it’s unclear if it will be renewed or replaced with another system.

What is the Franchise Tag?

The franchise tag is a designation that a National Football League (NFL) team may apply to a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The tag binds the player to the team for one season, during which he is paid a guaranteed salary that is no less than the average of the top five salaries at his position, or 120% of his salary from the previous season – whichever figure is greater.

How does the Franchise Tag work?

The Franchise Tag is a tool used by NFL teams to keep players they view as vital to their organization. It allows a team to sign a player to a one-year contract worth the average salary of the top five players at his position, or 120 percent of his previous year’s salary — whichever is greater. The team can use the Franchise Tag on one player each year.

The Franchise Tag guarantees the player a certain amount of money, but it does not guarantee that he will play for the team that tagged him. If the player signs his Franchise Tag, he is essentially agreeing to play for that team for one season at a predetermined salary. However, if the player does not sign his Franchise Tag, he becomes a free agent and can sign with any team in the NFL.

There are two types of Franchise Tags: exclusive and non-exclusive. The exclusive tag prevents the player from signing with any other team; however, it also comes with a significantly higher price tag. The non-exclusive tag allows the player to negotiate with other teams, but if he signs an offer sheet with another team, his current team has the right to match that offer and keep him under contract.

The use of the Franchise Tag can often lead to tension between a team and its players. Players may feel that they are being underpaid relative to their production, while teams may feel that they are overpaying for a player who is only committed to them for one season. As a result, it is not uncommon for players who have been franchised to hold out from training camp or even sit out an entire season in an effort to force their current team to give them a long-term contract.

Who is eligible for the Franchise Tag?

Only players who have accrued four or more seasons of service are eligible for unrestricted free agency; thus, the franchise tag is used on players who have fewer than four seasons of NFL experience. A team exercises its right of first refusal by designating the player with a “franchise” or “transition” tag. The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are not met.

What is the deadline to use the Franchise Tag?

The deadline for NFL teams to use the franchise tag is March 5th at 4:00 p.m. EST.

How much does it cost to use the Franchise Tag?

The Franchise Tag is a tool that NFL teams can use to keep players from becoming free agents. When a team uses the Franchise Tag on a player, they are essentially saying that they are willing to pay that player the average salary of the top 5 players at his position. For example, if the average salary of a left tackle was $10 million per year, then a team would have to pay their left tackle $10 million if they used the Franchise Tag on him.

There are two types of Franchise Tags: the Exclusive Rights Franchise Tag and the Non-Exclusive Rights Franchise Tag. The Exclusive Rights Franchise Tag is the more expensive of the two, as it prevents the player from negotiating with any other team. The Non-Exclusive Rights Franchise Tag is less expensive, but it still allows the player to negotiate with other teams. If another team makes an offer to the player that is more than what the original team is offering, then the original team has the right to match that offer and keep the player.

The cost of using the Franchise Tag varies depending on which type of tag is used and which position the player plays. For example, quarterbacks typically command a higher salary than running backs, so they would cost more to keep via the Franchise Tag. In 2019, the cost of using the Exclusive Rights Franchise Tag ranged from $16.2 million for quarterbacks to $5.6 million for kickers and punters. The cost of using the Non-Exclusive Rights Franchise Tag ranged from $19.9 million for quarterbacks to $4.8 million for running backs.

What are the benefits of using the Franchise Tag?

The Franchise Tag is a designation that 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.

What are the drawbacks of using the Franchise Tag?

The biggest drawback of using the Franchise Tag is that it can prevent a team from signing a player to a long-term contract. This means that the player may only stay with the team for one year, after which they would become an unrestricted free agent and be able to sign with any team they choose.

Another drawback is that it can be difficult to predict what a player’s value will be in the future, especially if they haven’t yet hit their prime. If a team misjudges a player’s worth and ends up tagging them for more than their actual value, it can end up being a very expensive mistake.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the NFL franchise tag is a designation given by the league to a small group of the most skilled and valuable players on a team. It is a way for teams to keep these players from leaving via free agency, by offering them a one-year contract that is worth more than what they would make on the open market. While it may seem unfair to tag players who have already proven themselves in the league, it is a necessary part of the NFL’s salary cap system and helps to keep the playing field level for all teams.