Understanding the NFL's Franchise Tag Dynamics in 2025
A Strategic Offseason Tool
The NFL offseason serves as a pivotal period for teams as they contemplate tactical adjustments that could define their futures. One crucial mechanism at their disposal is the franchise tag. This tool lets teams hold on to top-tier players, offering them the opportunity to secure talent without committing to long-term contracts.
In 2025, NFL teams face a 15-day window, from February 18 to March 4, to use these franchise tags. There's more than one type of tag, each with its intricacies: the exclusive and the non-exclusive franchise tags. While both aim to keep players on their current teams, their conditions differ.
Breaking Down Franchise Tag Types
The non-exclusive franchise tag’s value is determined by calculating either 120% of a player's last agreement or the average pay of the top five earners at their position, choosing the larger amount. This variety allows athletes the freedom to seek offers from other teams. Current teams, however, retain the right to match any proposal. On the contrary, the exclusive franchise tag keeps players from even starting conversations with other teams, ensuring they stay put by offering them the most financially rewarding option of the calculations.
Then, there's the transition tag, utilizing the average salaries of the top ten players at a position, again incorporating a 120% consideration. It doesn't provide compensation should a team choose not to match an outside offer, making it a slightly riskier bet.
Recent Trends and Implications
In recent outings, the franchise tag seems to be drifting back to its original intent, as noted by an unnamed source, with seven of eight tagged players recently inking multiyear contracts. Nonetheless, the period between 2021 and 2023 showed fewer than half managing similar long-term agreements. In total, 22 franchise tags have been applied over the past three seasons, translating to an annual average of seven applications.
With a projected salary cap for 2025 looming between $265 million and $275 million, teams strategize intricately over who to lock in and who to let test free agency waters. For where Sam Darnold stands, a notable figure with a $10 million one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings, the stakes are high. Should Darnold depart, the Vikings could unlock a significant $65 million in cap space. "Since Darnold would clearly be the top quarterback available on the open market, using a franchise tag to trade him isn't out of the question," summarized an informed source.
Complexities and Calculations
Players like Chris Godwin face potential pitfalls if tagged once more, with complex calculations potentially yielding unaffordable scenarios. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals have already made moves with a $21.816 million franchise tag on Tee Higgins.
Changes and team swapping are sometimes inevitable, as seen with Russell Wilson donning the Pittsburgh Steelers' jersey after leaving the Denver Broncos. Each decision, each tag application, can set off a domino effect, altering team compositions and futures.