NFL Franchise Tag Explained

Though the NFL's new league year is still a few weeks away, several teams around the league are pressing the issue in terms of locking down standout players for at least one more season.

From Feb. 27-March 12, teams can place franchise or transition tags on players who are set to hit free agency once the aforementioned new league year begins on March 18.

To say that the rules and regulations regarding a franchise tag are complicated would be an understatement, so let's dive into a deeper analysis.

What is the Franchise Tag?

In a vacuum, the franchise tag is a clause used by teams to lock players into one-year deals, preventing that player from becoming a free agent that offseason. Each team is only provided with one tag per season, and they are not required to use it.

However, teams are granted the opportunity to rescind a franchise tag. Back in 2016, the Panthers used the tag on cornerback Josh Norman, but eventually took it away and Norman subsequently signed with the Redskins.

Though the tag doesn't offer long-term security for players, the salary is guaranteed and it's normally pretty upscale. Rules state that these one-year salaries must represent the average of the five highest-paid players at the respective position.

For teams that elect to tag players, the deadline for them to sign those players to a contract extension is July 15. If an agreement still isn't made by the cutoff, that player will play out the season under the one-year tag.

Thus far, stars like Chris Jones, Yannick Ngakoue, AJ Green, and Matthew Judon are all expected to be tagged by their respective franchises, per reports. Names to keep an eye on in that regard are Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, and Dante Fowler and Shaquil Barrett, among others.