NFL Franchise Tag Window Opens
The window for NFL teams to designate a franchise or transition player opened today, February 17, and will run through March 3. While teams can apply the tag at any time during this period, most are expected to wait until closer to the deadline. This marks the official start of a key period for offseason roster management and contract negotiations.
- The projected 2026 franchise tag value for quarterbacks is the highest at an estimated $47.3 million, while the value for running backs is among the lowest at approximately $14.5 million. - There are two primary types of franchise tags: the non-exclusive tag, which allows a player to negotiate with other teams but grants his original team the right to match any offer or receive two first-round picks as compensation, and the more restrictive exclusive tag. - The exclusive franchise tag prevents a player from negotiating with other teams and compensates them with a one-year deal worth the average of the top five salaries at their position for the current year, or 120% of their previous salary, whichever is greater. - A third, less common option is the transition tag, which is a one-year offer based on the average of the top 10 salaries at the player's position; the original team can match any offer the player receives, but gets no draft compensation if they let the player walk. - Notable players considered potential franchise tag candidates for the 2026 season include Dallas Cowboys WR George Pickens, Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts, New York Jets RB Breece Hall, and Indianapolis Colts QB Daniel Jones. - A player can be franchise-tagged a second time at 120% of his previous year's salary, and a third time for the greater of the quarterback tag value or 144% of his second tag salary, a mechanism that makes a third tag prohibitively expensive for most positions. - Once a player signs the franchise tag tender, the salary is fully guaranteed. The team and the player then have until July 15th to agree on a long-term contract extension; otherwise, the player must play the season on the one-year tag deal. - In the previous offseason (2025), only two players were given the franchise tag: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins and Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith, reflecting a trend of selective use by teams due to the high cost.
