When all else failed in negotiations in past years, NFL teams had the option of using either the franchise tag or transition tag to keep a player they didn’t want walking away as a free agent. This year is a little different. In the final year of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams are allowed to use both the franchise and transition tags.
The tags can be designated between Feb. 25 and March 10. There are two types of franchise tags, exclusive and non-exclusive. A player with the non-exclusive franchise tag can negotiate with other teams. If an offer is received from outside, the current team has the option to match the offer or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation. The franchise tag is calculated by the average of the top five salaries at a given position or 120 percent of the player’s salary from last year (whichever number is greater).
The transition tag is valued at an average of the top 10 salaries at the player’s position or 120 percent of his salary from the previous year. There’s one big difference between the franchise and transition tags. With the transition tag, the current team receives no compensation if it elects to not match an offer from another team.
Some players, such as New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, New England quarterback Tom Brady and Seattle defensive end Jadeveon Clowney have language in their contracts that forbids the use of franchise and transition tags.
Let’s take a look at the top candidates for franchise or transition tags in 2020:
20. James Bradberry, CB, Carolina Panthers
General manager Marty Hurney has told Bradberry the team wants to keep him. That makes sense because Bradberry is Carolina’s best cornerback in a division that features receivers Julio Jones, Michael Thomas, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. But there’s a potential problem on the horizon. Former Carolina coach Ron Rivera is now in Washington and Bradberry was one of his favorites. The best way to box out Rivera may be to franchise Bradberry.
19. Jordan Phillips, DT, Buffalo Bills
Phillips has completed his rookie contract and is likely to want to test the market even though he has said he wants to stay in Buffalo. The Bills may resort to the franchise tag to keep Phillips from testing the market.
18. Matthew Judon, OLB, Baltimore Ravens
Judon led the Ravens with 9.5 sacks and the team doesn’t want a repeat of last offseason when pass-rusher Za’Darius Smith walked away in free agency. The best way to prevent that is to use the franchise tag on Judon.
17. A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Green sat out all of last season with an ankle injury. At 31, he’s likely to be looking for a final big-money contract. But the Bengals may be cautious because of the injury. It would make sense to franchise him and let Green prove he’s healthy.
16. Dante Fowler Jr., LB, Los Angeles Rams
Fowler had a career-high 11.5 sacks and the Rams want him back. But the Rams are 23rd in cap space (19.7 million) and general manager Les Snead is always active in free agency. That could make Fowler a candidate for the franchise tag.
15. Bud Dupree, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Coach Mike Tomlin has made it clear that the Steelers want to keep Dupree, who had 11.5 sacks last season. But cap space will be tight as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will take up $33.5 million. That makes franchising Dupree a real possibility.
14. Arik Armstead, DL, San Francisco 49ers
Armstead is solid as a pass rusher and a run stopper on one of the league’s best defensive lines. The 49ers don’t want to break up that line, but they have only $16 million in cap space and George Kittle and DeForest Buckner are likely to get contract extensions this offseason. The 49ers could end up using the franchise or transition tag on Armstead.
13. Yannick Ngakoue, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Ngakoue reportedly wants a long-term contract worth around $22 million. The Jaguars almost certainly will franchise him at $17.9 million and continue to work out a cap-friendly long-term deal.
12. Justin Simmons, S, Denver Broncos
Simmons has said he wants to return and general manager John Elway has said he wants the safety back. But Simmons is likely to want top money for a safety (around $14 million a year). If the Broncos want to play hardball, they could franchise him.
11. Brandon Scherff, G, Washington Redskins
With new coach Ron Rivera, the Redskins will be in full rebuilding mode. They have $46 million in cap space, but most of that will be used to bring in free agents. Scherff is a player the Redskins should keep, but they may have to do it with a $14.9 million franchise tag.
10. Chris Jones, DT, Kansas City Chiefs
Jones is part of the heart of Kansas City’s defense. But the Chiefs have just $19.4 million in cap room. That makes Jones a candidate for the franchise tag. Keep in mind, the Chiefs franchised Dee Ford last year and, then, turned around and traded him.
9. Melvin Gordon, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Gordon held out for the first four games of last season while seeking a long-term deal. The Chargers didn’t give it to him. Gordon returned and rushed for 612 yards and eight touchdowns while also catching 42 passes. The Chargers are $51 million under the cap, but they’re likely to be extremely active in free agency and that could make Gordon a candidate for the franchise tag.
8. Shaquil Barrett, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Barrett led the league with 19.5 sacks. Was he a one-year wonder or is he worthy of a big long-term deal? That’s what the Bucs have to decide. Franchising Barrett would cost $16 million, but the Bucs may use that tag on quarterback Jameis Winston. The transition tag also could be an option for Barrett.
7. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, New Orleans Saints
Bridgewater played great when he started five games when Drew Brees was injured. He put himself in line to be the league’s most sought-after free agent. But the Saints would like to keep him even if Brees, 41, decides against retirement and signs a new contract. Franchising Bridgewater is an option, although it’s an expensive one at $27 million. But general manager Mickey Loomis is a master at working wonders with the salary cap.
6. Austin Hooper, TE, Atlanta Falcons
Hooper has become a big part of the Atlanta offense. He has put himself in line for a contract that is near the top of the tight end market (roughly $10 million per year). The Falcons want to keep Hooper but that’s going to be tough because Atlanta has other needs and has only $7.5 million in cap space. Franchising Hooper might be the best option.
5. Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys already signed running back Ezekiel Elliott to a long-term deal. They’re working on getting quarterback Dak Prescott signed to a long-term deal. As owner Jerry Jones said, there are only so many slices of the pie to go around. Cooper could be the odd man out, especially if the team uses the franchise tag on Prescott. A transition tag is a possibility for Cooper.
4. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Tennessee Titans
After never really succeeding in Miami, Tannehill redeemed himself after taking over as the starter from Marcus Mariota. But did Tannehill do enough to get a top-of-the market contract (over $30 million per year)? The Titans also need to pay running back Derrick Henry. They could use the franchise or transition tag on Tannehill.
3. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans
The league’s leading rusher, Henry really accelerated his game late in the season and into the playoffs. He made a case to be the league’s highest-paid running back. With the Titans at $51 million under the cap, they have enough room to sign Henry and quarterback Ryan Tannehill to long-term contracts. But, if Henry’s demands are too high, the Titans can use the franchise tag ($10.3 million for a running back).
2. Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This is one of the most difficult calls throughout the league. Although Winston threw for over 5,000 yards, but also was intercepted a league-high 30 times. The Bucs may be hesitant to give a long-term contract for big money to a quarterback that has been so inconsistent. But they also don’t want someone with his raw talent to walk away. That’s why the franchise tag ($27 million for a quarterback) might be the best solution.
1. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
Jared Goff raised the bar for quarterback salaries when he signed a four-year deal that could be worth as much as $148 million prior to last season. Prescott has far more talent and upside than Goff and deserves a bigger deal. The team and Prescott’s agent have been talking since the preseason, but there’s been no agreement. The Cowboys could be forced to use the franchise tag to buy more time to work out a long-term deal with Prescott.
Pat Yasinskas has covered the NFL since 1993. He has worked for The Tampa Tribune, The Charlotte Observer and ESPN.com and writes for numerous national magazines and websites. He also has served as a voter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
