The NFL and NFLPA are currently in negotiations to figure out a new collective bargaining agreement. With talks ongoing, the groups have agreed to alter the dates teams can apply the franchise and transition tags. With the Baltimore Ravens having outside linebacker Matthew Judon as a potential franchise tag recipient, the change in date matters a great deal.
Baltimore will now be able to apply the franchise tag on Judon as early as February 27 with the final deadline being March 12, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. It gives the Ravens two more days over the standard dates to hopefully work out a long-term deal with Judon before they’ll have the franchise tag available to use.
In the final year of the current CBA, teams can use both the franchise tag and transition tag if they wish. Normally, only one or the other would be available. However, the transition tag doesn’t make much sense for Baltimore to use. The franchise tag would either give the Ravens exclusive rights over Judon or would net them two first-round picks if another team were to sign him. The transition tag comes at a slightly reduced cost but would only give Baltimore the right of first refusal to match a deal from another team, something they likely can’t afford to do given their salary-cap situation.
