Let’s play some tag.
The NFL's franchise tag window opens today, Tuesday, Feb. 17, and runs through March 3 at 4 p.m. ET.
The window may open today, but don't expect a slew of news. Most teams will wait until closer to the end of the window before executing the tag. Using the deadline as a soft threat to get a longer-term extension done before employing the one-year tender is usually step one in the process. If it becomes clear that a deal won’t happen, then the game of tag begins.
Once a tag is used, sides have until July 15 to negotiate a multiyear extension. If no agreement materializes, the player will work under the one-year tender. Sides can negotiate a different amount or additional incentives after the deadline, provided the agreement is within a one-year time frame.
There are three different types of tags clubs can utilize:
1. Non-exclusive franchise tag: The most commonly used tag. When the franchise tag is discussed, it’s generally referring to the non-exclusive version. This is a one-year tender of the average of the top five salaries at the player's position over the last five years, or 120 percent of his previous salary, whichever is greater. The tagged player can negotiate with other teams, but the current club owns the right to match any offer or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation if he signs with another team.
2. Exclusive franchise tag: As the name indicates, the tagging team retains the sole right to negotiate with the tendered player. The exclusivity raises the pay scale. The exclusive tag is a one-year tender that averages the top five salaries at the player's position for the current year or 120 percent of his previous salary, whichever is greater. We might call this the "franchise quarterback tag," as it's generally used only on players that other teams would gladly give up two first-round picks to sign.
3. Transition tag: The transition tag is a one-year tender offer for the average of the top 10 salaries at the position -- as opposed to the top five for the franchise tag. It guarantees the original club the right of first refusal to match any offer the player might receive from another club. The tagging team is not compensated if it chooses not to match a deal.
Each club can use only one tender in a year. It can be rescinded at any time before the player signs it. A player can be tagged up to three times by his team, with a jump in pay for each occurrence -- the percentage of the salary cap taken up by the third time generally makes it prohibitive.
A tagged player can be traded only after he signs the tender. Players with unsigned tenders are not technically under contract and, therefore, not susceptible to fines for missing voluntary offseason workouts, including training camp.
The tag figures have yet to be released, as they are based on the NFL's annual salary cap, which has not yet been officially announced for the 2026 season.
After the tag was used just twice last year -- Tee Higgins and Trey Smith -- we could see clubs get more use out of the mechanism in 2026, with George Pickens, Daniel Jones and Breece Hall being players who could get tagged in the coming fortnight.