Report: NFL to extend franchise tag deadline until after CBA vote

The NFL has reportedly decided to extend the deadline for teams to franchise tag players, moving it from March 12 to March 16.

This comes from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

New deadline for franchise tags now will be extended to Monday, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2020

Moving the tag deadline became necessary after the players’ collective bargaining agreement vote deadline was pushed back to March 14.

So, as long as the legal tampering period doesn’t get pushed back as well, the tag deadline for teams will be on the same day. Free agents can officially begin signing with teams at the start of the new league year on March 18.

NFL’s franchise tag deadline is 11:59.59 Monday am et.

Legal tampering starts one second later Monday.

Quite a week ahead.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2020

This is good news for the Titans, a team that is likely to use at least one of the two tags at their disposal. Now, Tennessee can see how things shake out with the proposed CBA and then make a more informed decision on tag candidates like Derrick Henry, Ryan Tannehill and Jack Conklin.

And, as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero points out, this new deadline also eliminates a potentially messy situation if teams use both tags and then a new CBA passes.

The new timeline eliminates the unusual possibility of a team using two tags under Final League Year rules and then needing to rescind one if players ratify the CBA. If players vote no on the CBA, teams can still apply both tags, right before the negotiating window opens. Wild.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 10, 2020

As it stands now, the Titans have the opportunity to use both the franchise and transition tag this offseason. Normally, teams are only allowed to use one, which would again be the rule if the new CBA passes.