Franchise tag
In the National Football League, 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 and one transition tag per year. The transition tag can only be used if the team does not use a franchise tag; however, Article 10 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement 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.
Perhaps originally designed to reduce player movement to bigger markets, which is often evidenced in the other major pro sports leagues, the NFL revenue sharing and a hard salary cap have placed teams on an even playing field relative to salaries. 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.
The designated franchise player will have his one-year salary guaranteed if he elects to play for the team that designated him with the franchise tag and if he does not negotiate a contract with another team.
Background
The National Football League introduced the franchise tag in 1993. There are two types of franchise tag designations: the exclusive rights franchise tag, and non-exclusive rights franchise tag:- An "exclusive" franchise player must be offered a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position as of a date in April of the current year in which the tag will apply, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. Exclusive franchise players cannot negotiate with other teams. The player's team has all the negotiating rights to the exclusive player.
- 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.
- Under the Capped years a team can designate one additional player only as a transitional tag. A transition player must be offered a minimum of the average of the top 10 salaries of the prior season at the player's position or 120 percent of the player's prior year's salary, whichever is greater. 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.
- Consecutive franchise tags are allowed; however, for a player to be tagged two straight years, the team must pay 120 percent of the player's previous salary. If it is three-straight years, the team must pay the player 144 percent of his previous salary, or an average of the top 5 salaries at the highest-paid position —whichever is higher.
Historical data
Yearly tag values
| Position | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 |
| Cornerback | $13,703,000 | $12,971,000 | $12,371,000 | $11,913,000 | $11,082,000 | $10,081,000 | $9,095,000 | $trans | $trans | $8,056,000 | $8,374,000 |
| Defensive End | $14,360,000 | $14,200,000 | $13,846,000 | $12,734,000 | $11,958,000 | $10,633,000 | $9,151,000 | $trans | $trans | $10,193,000 | $7,777,000 |
| Defensive Tackle | $12,378,000 | $11,407,000 | $10,714,000 | $10,875,000 | $9,314,000 | $8,060,000 | $7,039,000 | $trans | $trans | $6,353,000 | $5,450,000 |
| Linebacker | $13,222,000 | $12,810,000 | $12,305,000 | $11,925,000 | $11,058,000 | $9,754,000 | $8,358,000 | $trans | $trans | $8,373,000 | $7,480,000 |
| Offensive Linemen | $12,866,000 | $12,525,000 | $12,580,000 | $11,902,000 | $11,096,000 | $10,039,000 | $8,709,000 | $trans | $trans | $9,142,000 | $7,744,000 |
| Placekicker or Punter | $4,537,000 | $4,493,000 | $4,399,000 | $4,123,000 | $3,716,000 | $3,205,000 | $2,700,000 | $trans | $trans | $2,629,000 | $2,264,000 |
| Quarterback | $22,783,000 | $20,922,000 | $19,038,000 | $17,696,000 | $16,155,000 | $14,666,000 | $13,068,000 | $trans | $trans | $14,546,000 | $12,440,000 |
| Running Back | $9,099,000 | $9,630,000 | $9,796,000 | $9,647,000 | $9,037,000 | $8,033,000 | $6,970,000 | $trans | $trans | $7,151,000 | $5,925,000 |
| Safety | $9,531,000 | $9,536,000 | $9,294,000 | $9,116,000 | $8,263,000 | $7,253,000 | $6,002,000 | $trans | $trans | $6,011,000 | $5,130,000 |
| Tight End | $8,815,000 | $8,428,000 | $8,147,000 | $7,714,000 | $7,071,000 | $6,106,000 | $5,194,000 | $trans | $trans | $5,248,000 | $4,065,000 |
| Wide Receiver | $14,794,000 | $13,924,000 | $13,129,000 | $12,368,000 | $10,971,000 | $10,176,000 | $8,867,000 | $trans | $trans | $8,651,000 | $8,393,000 |
Team tags
2020
;Franchised-tagged players- Los Angeles Chargers - Hunter Henry, TE
- Baltimore Ravens - Matt Judon, LB
- Denver Broncos - Justin Simmons, S
- Jacksonville Jaguars - Yannick Ngakoue, DE
- Washington Redskins - Brandon Scherff, OG
- Pittsburgh Steelers - Bud Dupree, LB
- Tennessee Titans - Derrick Henry, RB
- Dallas Cowboys - Dak Prescott, QB
- Cincinnati Bengals - AJ Green, WR
- Arizona Cardinals - Kenyan Drake, RB
- New England Patriots - Joe Thuney, OG
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Shaquil Barrett, OLB
- Kansas City Chiefs - Chris Jones, DT
- New York Giants - Leonard Williams, DE
- Minnesota Vikings - Anthony Harris, S
2019
- San Francisco 49ers - Robbie Gould, K : Signed a 4-year contract for $19 million with $15 million guaranteed.
- Houston Texans - Jadeveon Clowney, LB : Traded to Seattle Seahawks
- Kansas City Chiefs - Dee Ford, LB : Traded to 49ers, Signed a 5-year contract for $85 million
- Seattle Seahawks - Frank Clark, DE : Traded to Chiefs, Signed 5-year contract for $105.5 million with $63.5 million guaranteed
- Dallas Cowboys - DeMarcus Lawrence, DE : Signed a 5-year contract for $105 million
- Atlanta Falcons - Grady Jarrett, DT : Signed a 4-year contract for $68 million with $42.5 million guaranteed.
2018
- Chicago Bears – Kyle Fuller, CB : Signed 4-year contract for $56 million
- Dallas Cowboys – DeMarcus Lawrence, DE
- Detroit Lions – Ezekiel Ansah, DE
- Los Angeles Rams – Lamarcus Joyner, CB
- Miami Dolphins – Jarvis Landry, WR : Traded to Browns, signed 5-year contract for $75.5 million
2017
- Arizona Cardinals – Chandler Jones, LB : Signed a 5-year contract for 82.5 million with 53 million guaranteed.
- Carolina Panthers – Kawann Short, DT : Signed 5-year contract for $80.5 million
- Los Angeles Rams – Trumaine Johnson, CB
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Le'Veon Bell, RB
- Washington Redskins – Kirk Cousins, QB
2016
- Baltimore Ravens – Justin Tucker, K : signed 4-year contract for $16.8 million
- Buffalo Bills – Cordy Glenn, OT : signed 5-year contract for $65 million
- Carolina Panthers – Josh Norman, CB
- Chicago Bears – Alshon Jeffery, WR
- Denver Broncos – Von Miller, OLB : signed 6-year contract for $114.5 million
- Kansas City Chiefs – Eric Berry, S
- Los Angeles Rams – Trumaine Johnson, CB
- New York Jets – Muhammad Wilkerson, DE : signed 5-year contract for $86 million
- Washington Redskins – Kirk Cousins, QB
2015
- Dallas Cowboys – Dez Bryant, WR: signed 5-year contract for $70 million
- Denver Broncos – Demaryius Thomas, WR
- Kansas City Chiefs – Justin Houston, LB
- Miami Dolphins – Charles Clay, TE
- New England Patriots – Stephen Gostkowski, K
- New York Giants – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE.
2014
- Carolina Panthers – Greg Hardy DE
- Cleveland Browns – Alex Mack C
- New Orleans Saints – Jimmy Graham TE
- New York Jets – Nick Folk K
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Jason Worilds DE
- Washington Redskins – Brian Orakpo OLB
2013
- Buffalo Bills – Jairus Byrd S
- Chicago Bears – Henry Melton DT
- Cincinnati Bengals – Michael Johnson DE
- Dallas Cowboys – Anthony Spencer LB
- Denver Broncos – Ryan Clady OT
- Indianapolis Colts – Pat McAfee P
- Kansas City Chiefs – Brandon Albert OT
- Miami Dolphins – Randy Starks DT
2012
- Arizona Cardinals – Calais Campbell DE
- Atlanta Falcons – Brent Grimes CB
- Baltimore Ravens – Ray Rice RB
- Chicago Bears – Matt Forte RB
- Cincinnati Bengals – Mike Nugent K
- Cleveland Browns – Phil Dawson K
- Dallas Cowboys – Anthony Spencer LB
- Denver Broncos – Matt Prater K
- Detroit Lions – Cliff Avril DE
- Jacksonville Jaguars – Josh Scobee K
- Kansas City Chiefs – Dwayne Bowe WR
- New England Patriots – Wes Welker WR
- New Orleans Saints – Drew Brees QB
- New York Giants – Steve Weatherford P
- Oakland Raiders – Tyvon Branch SS
- Philadelphia Eagles – DeSean Jackson WR
- San Francisco 49ers – Dashon Goldson S
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Connor Barth K
- Washington Redskins – Fred Davis TE
2011
- New England Patriots – Logan Mankins G
- Philadelphia Eagles – Michael Vick QB
- New York Jets – David Harris LB
- San Diego Chargers – Vincent Jackson WR
- Baltimore Ravens – Haloti Ngata DT
- Indianapolis Colts – Peyton Manning QB
- Kansas City Chiefs – Tamba Hali LB
- Minnesota Vikings – Chad Greenway LB
- Cleveland Browns – Phil Dawson K
- Carolina Panthers – Ryan Kalil C
- Jacksonville Jaguars – Marcedes Lewis TE
- Miami Dolphins – Paul Soliai DT
- Oakland Raiders – Kamerion Wimbley LB
2010
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Jeff Reed K
- Green Bay Packers – Ryan Pickett DT
- Oakland Raiders – Richard Seymour DE
- San Francisco 49ers – Aubrayo Franklin DT
- Seattle Seahawks – Olindo Mare K
- New England Patriots – Vince Wilfork DT
2009
- Arizona Cardinals – Karlos Dansby OLB
- Atlanta Falcons – Michael Koenen P
- Baltimore Ravens – Terrell Suggs OLB
- Carolina Panthers – Julius Peppers DE
- Cincinnati Bengals – Shayne Graham K
- Houston Texans – Dunta Robinson CB
- Green Bay Packers – Ryan Pickett NT
- New England Patriots – Matt Cassel QB
- New York Giants – Brandon Jacobs RB
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Jeff Reed K
- San Diego Chargers – Darren Sproles RB
- Seattle Seahawks – Leroy Hill LB
- St. Louis Rams – Oshiomogho Atogwe FS
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Antonio Bryant WR
- Tennessee Titans – Bo Scaife TE
2008
- Arizona Cardinals – Karlos Dansby LB
- Baltimore Ravens – Terrell Suggs LB
- Carolina Panthers – Jordan Gross OL
- Cincinnati Bengals – Stacy Andrews OL
- Dallas Cowboys – Ken Hamlin SS
- Green Bay Packers – Corey Williams DT
- Indianapolis Colts – Dallas Clark TE
- Kansas City Chiefs – Jared Allen DE
- Oakland Raiders – Nnamdi Asomugha CB
- Philadelphia Eagles – L.J. Smith TE
- Seattle Seahawks – Marcus Trufant CB
- Tennessee Titans – Albert Haynesworth DT
2007
- Chicago Bears – Lance Briggs LB
- Cincinnati Bengals – Justin Smith DE
- Detroit Lions – Cory Redding DT
- Indianapolis Colts – Dwight Freeney DE
- New England Patriots – Asante Samuel CB
- New Orleans Saints – Charles Grant DE
- Seattle Seahawks – Josh Brown K