Franchise tag

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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 (of either the exclusive or non-exclusive forms) and one transition tag per year. The transition tag can only be used if the team does not use a franchise tag. As a result, each team may only designate one player each year as that team's franchise player using one of the three tag options.

Perhaps originally designed to reduce player movement to bigger markets, which is often evidenced in other major pro sports leagues, the NFL revenue sharing and a hard salary cap has placed teams on an even playing field relative to salaries. The tag options allow NFL franchises an extended bargaining period for a player that 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.[1] 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.

Franchise-tagged players by year

Exclusive franchise player costs by position
Position 2015[2] 2014[3] 2013[4] 2012[5] 2011[5] 2010[6] 2009[7] 2008 2007
Cornerback $13,075,000 $11,834,000 $10,854,000 $10,600,000 $13,500,000 $9,566,000 $9,957,000 $9,465,000 $5,893,000
Defensive end $14,813,000 $13,116,000 $11,175,000 $10,600,000 $13,000,000 $12,398,000 $8,991,000 $8,879,000 $8,332,000
Defensive tackle $11,193,000 $9,654,000 $8,450,000 $7,900,000 $12,500,000 $7,003,000 $6,058,000 $6,363,000 $5,656,000
Linebacker $13,195,000 $11,455,000 $9,619,000 $8,800,000 $10,100,000 $9,680,000 $8,304,000 $8,065,000 $7,169,000
Offensive linemen
(Tackles, Guards, and Centers)
$12,943,000 $11,654,000 $9,828,000 $9,400,000 $10,100,000 $10,731,000 $8,451,000 $7,455,000 $6,983,000
Placekicker or Punter $4,126,000 $3,556,000 $2,977,000 $2,500,000 $3,250,000 $2,814,000 $2,483,000 $2,514,000 $2,468,000
Quarterback $18,544,000 $16,912,000 $14,896,000 $14,400,000 $16,100,000 $16,405,000 $14,651,000 $13,730,000 $12,789,000
Running Back
(Fullbacks and Halfbacks)
$10,951,000 $9,540,000 $8,219,000 $7,700,000 $9,600,000 $8,156,000 $6,621,000 $6,538,000 $6,085,000
Safety $9,618,000 $8,433,000 $6,916,000 $6,200,000 $8,800,000 $6,455,000 $6,342,000 $4,396,000 $4,109,000
Tight end $8,347,000 $7,035,000 $6,066,000 $5,400,000 $7,300,000 $5,908,000 $4,462,000 $4,522,000 $3,327,000
Wide receiver $12,823,000 $12,312,000 $10,537,000 $9,400,000 $11,400,000 $9,521,000 $9,884,000 $7,848,000 $6,172,000

2015

Franchise-tagged players [8]

2014

Franchise-tagged players

2013

Franchise-tagged players
Source[13][14]

2012

Franchise-tagged players

2011

Franchise-tagged players

2010

Franchise-tagged players

2009

Franchise-tagged players

2008

Franchise-tagged players

2007

Franchise-tagged players

References

Notes
  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12408402/nfl-informs-teams-2015-salary-cap-14328-million
  3. [1]
  4. [2]
  5. 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. NFL franchise/transition tag tender amounts for 2010 season - The Huddle: Football News from the NFL - USATODAY.com
  7. [3]
  8. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000475744/article/franchise-tag-tracker?campaign=Facebook_tagtracker
  9. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000329988/article/greg-hardy-receives-carolina-panthers-franchise-tag
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/nfl-franchise-tag-deadlines-ends-with-a-bang-030314
  11. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/28/jets-use-franchise-tag-on-kicker-nick-folk/
  12. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2014/03/03/redskins-apply-franchise-player-tag-to-brian-orakpo/
  13. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000146745/article/deadline-day-tracking-franchise-tags
  15. http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/7649119/source-new-york-giants-punter-steve-weatherford-gets-franchise-tag
  16. http://blogs.detroitlions.com/2012/03/05/lions-use-franchise-tag-on-avril/
  17. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82756ed9/article/niners-gm-baalke-says-they-will-keep-working-on-goldson-deal
  18. http://blogs.nfl.com/2012/03/01/raiders-apply-franchise-tag-to-branch/
  19. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82755e0f/article/grimes-franchised-by-falcons-but-cb-not-ready-to-sign
  20. http://blogs.nfl.com/2012/03/02/redskins-use-franchise-tag-on-te-davis/
  21. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d827577fd/article/ravens-apply-tag-to-rice-but-both-sides-want-longterm-deal
  22. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8275a1a3/article/bears-apply-franchise-tag-to-rb-forte-still-want-longterm-deal
  23. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82757600/article/cardinals-say-longterm-deal-with-campbell-remains-priority
  24. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82757d0c/article/franchise-tag-will-keep-kicker-nugent-with-bengals-for-2012
  25. http://blogs.nfl.com/2012/03/02/browns-will-apply-franchise-tag-to-kicker-dawson/
  26. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8275c9d5/article/saints-use-franchise-tender-on-brees-qbs-figure-144-million?module=HP11_breaking_news
  27. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7647252/denver-broncos-franchise-tag-kicker-matt-prater-source-says
  28. http://blogs.nfl.com/2012/03/05/cowboys-use-franchise-tag-on-lb-spencer/?module=HP11_breaking_news
  29. http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/7648141/new-england-patriots-franchise-wes-welker-source-says/?module=HP11_breaking_news
  30. http://www.tampabay.com/sports/football/bucs/tampa-bay-buccaneers-place-franchise-tag-on-connor-barth-re-sign-jeremy/1218450
  31. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7647426/kicker-josh-scobee-receives-jacksonville-jaguars-franchise-tag
  32. http://www.kansascity.com/2012/03/05/3470362/chiefs-designate-bowe-as-their.html
  33. New England Patriots put franchise tag on Logan Mankins - ESPN Boston
  34. Eagles Franchise Vick, Place Transition Tag on Akers
  35. NFL.com news: Jets use franchise tag to keep standout LB Harris in fold
  36. San Diego Chargers place franchise tag on WR Vincent Jackson - ESPN
  37. Ngata Gets The Franchise Tag « Baltimore Ravens Blogs
  38. QB Peyton Manning receives franchise tag from Indianapolis Colts - ESPN
  39. NFL.com news: AFC sacks leader Hali receives franchise tag from Chiefs
  40. Chad Greenway of Minnesota Vikings gets franchise tag - ESPN
  41. Cleveland Browns use franchise tag on K Phil Dawson - ESPN
  42. Carolina Panthers franchise tag center Ryan Kalil - ESPN
  43. Jacksonville Jaguars place franchise tag on star TE Marcedes Lewis - ESPN
  44. Source: Miami Dolphins use franchise tag on DT Paul Soliai - ESPN
  45. Oakland Raiders tag Kamerion Wimbley; source says Stanford Routt to stay - ESPN
  46. Jeff Reed: Franchise Tag Buys Steelers Time for Extension Talks | Bleacher Report
  47. Packers Franchise Tag Ryan Pickett
  48. Richard Seymour of Oakland Raiders signs $12.4M franchise tag - ESPN
  49. San Francisco 49ers place franchise tag on nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin - ESPN
  50. Why Seahawks used franchise tag on Olindo Mare | Seattle Seahawks & NFL News - Seattle Post-Intelligencer
  51. Cardinals place franchise tag on LB Karlos Dansby - USATODAY.com
  52. Falcons Franchise Their Punter
  53. Ravens place exclusive rights franchise tag on Terrell Suggs - ESPN
  54. Inside the Panthers
  55. Bengals News Home
  56. Robinson upset with Texans over franchise tag | Houston Texans Football | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
  57. Yahoo! Sports - Sports News, Scores, Rumors, Fantasy Games, and more
  58. 2.13 Giants Franchise RB Jacobs - Giants.com
  59. Steelers Designate Reed Franchise Player
  60. NFL.com Blogs » Blog Archive Chargers tag RB Sproles as franchise player «
  61. Seattle Seahawks tag linebacker Leroy Hill - ESPN
  62. [4][dead link]
  63. NFL.com Blogs » Blog Archive Bucs plan to use franchise tag on WR Bryant «
  64. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090219/SPORTS01/90219040/
  65. Cardinals place franchise tag on linebacker Dansby - NFL - ESPN
  66. Ravens franchise Suggs at LB; he says he should be DE - NFL - ESPN
  67. Unable to reach long-term deal, Panthers tag Gross
  68. Bengals designate OL Andrews franchise player - NFL - ESPN
  69. [5][dead link]
  70. Green Bay Packers news | News, sports, features, blogs, photos and forums about the Green Bay Packers | packersnews.com
  71. Unable to reach long-term deal, Colts franchise tag Clark - NFL - ESPN
  72. Chiefs put franchise tag on Allen, who wants to stay - NFL - ESPN
  73. Raiders slap exclusive franchise tag on CB Asomugha
  74. Healthy L.J. Smith gets Eagles' franchise tag - NFL - ESPN
  75. Report: Seahawks place franchise tag on Trufant - NFL - ESPN
  76. Titans make DT Albert Haynesworth a franchise player - NFL - ESPN