As NFL owners and the NFL Players Association continue to negotiate terms of a new collective bargaining agreement, the two sides know there’s a rush to get a CBA done before salaries and guidelines lock in for the 2020 season.
If a new CBA is not agreed to this week, the league will continue operating under the current CBA, which was ratified in 2011. The two sides can make some tweaks even before agreeing to a new CBA, though.
The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to move the deadlines for franchise and transition tags, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Tags can now be applied up until March 12, two days later than the original deadline.
That means the Broncos will have two extra days to negotiate with safety Justin Simmons before unrestricted free agency begins. If Denver is not able to reach a long-term deal with Simmons before March 12, they can place a one-year franchise tag on him to make sure he doesn’t leave.
The new league year — and free agency — will begin on March 18.
After tagging Simmons, the Broncos could then continue negotiating a long-term contract — and other teams wouldn’t be allowed to sign him.
