Explaining the tenders: NFL Franchise Tag window opens

The NFL’s franchise tag window will open later today at 4 p.m. ET and will stay open for two weeks, closing at 4 p.m. ET on March 4. This means that starting today, teams can use the franchise tag on one of their pending free agents whose contracts are coming to an end.

A player who receives the franchise tag will receive a one-year tender. Of the tenders, there are three types: Non-exclusive, exclusive, and transition. Let’s break down what each one means.

The NFL franchise tag tenders

Non-exclusive franchise tag

• Player will receive the average of the top five salaries at his position over the last five years OR 120% of his previous salary, whichever is greater
• Player can negotiate with other teams, but the current team has the right to match any offer OR receive two first-round draft picks as compensation if the player signs with another team
• Most commonly used franchise tag

Exclusive franchise tag

• Player will receive the average of the top five salaries at his position in the current year OR 120% of his salary, whichever is greater
• The current team is the only one who can negotiate with the player - his agent is prohibited from negotiating with other teams
• Commonly given to a player of higher value

Transition tag

• Player receives the average of the top 10 salaries at his position
• Player can negotiate with other teams and the current team has the right to match any offer, but they will receive no compensation if they refuse to match

After a player has been tagged, the team and the player have until July 15 to either sign a long-term deal or continue on the one-year tender. Last year, eight players were given the franchise tag and the only one to not end up with a long-term deal was Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, who played out his one-year tender instead. Teams and players can negotiate the amount of the contract or additional incentives, but it must be within one year.

Teams can only use one tender per season, and can only tag a player up to three times, but the value of the tag will increase each time. The second time a player is tagged, they will receive a 120% raise over the previous season. The third/final time a player is tagged, they’ll receive a 144% raise. So, if the Bengals decide to give Higgins another tag, they’ll have to increase his salary by 120% - $26.2 million in 2025.

Can a player refuse a franchise tag?

A tagged player can only be traded after he signs the tender. If he does not sign it, he’s technically not under contract with the team and cannot incur fines for missing offseason practices, including training camp, but he also cannot sign with another team unless the original team rescinds the tag or trades him.

The player is also free to request a trade, but it’s up to the team to decide if they want to force him to play or allow the trade. This is exactly what Davante Adams did in 2022. The Green Bay Packers tagged him, but he requested a trade and was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders, who gave him the long-term contract he was looking for.

There is of course the option of sitting out the entire season until the player is finally a free agent, which we saw Le’Veon Bell do in 2018. If the player does not sign the tender by the deadline and no extension is agreed upon, the player will automatically become ineligible to play for the season.

Who could be tagged this season?

There aren’t many players suspected to be tagged this year, but among the few are Higgins again as well as Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold. Either way, we likely won’t see much action until the March 4 deadline gets closer.

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