In the NFL, not a second is wasted and teams have begun the hiring period to put together a competitive lineup for the 2025 season. The first step is to establish who will carry the Franchise Player tags, which will be designated within two weeks of February 18
Generally, the salary of a franchise player is among the highest paid within the team and even in the league itself. The value of the exclusive franchise tag is on average between five and ten times higher than the player’s position. The value of each position will be detailed later.
Teams can only tag a player three times, and the value of the tag increases each time. The second time a player is tagged, he receives a 120% increase over the previous season. The third and final time a player is tagged, he receives a 144% increase
Who qualifies as a Designated Player?
Players whose contracts are nearing their term and this period will end on March 4 at 16:00 ET.
What is the purpose of teams to franchise tag players?
The franchise tag is a tool used by NFL teams to prevent their best players from leaving in free agency. If a player is tagged, they receive a special one-year offer.
What are the franchise levels?
- EXCLUSIVE TAG: This tag completely binds the player to the team. His agent is prohibited from soliciting outside offers.
- NON-EXCLUSIVE TAG: The player can sign an offer with another team, but the original team has the right to match the offer or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation in the event of a trade.
- TRANSITION TAG: It has the functions of Non-Exclusive, except that it only grants the original team the right to match the offer of the other team without the right to two Draft picks in case of a trade.
Once a player is tagged, both parties have until July 15 to sign a long-term contract or, according to NFL rules, the player will play on the one-year contract (or sit out).
What is the value for each position on an NFL team?
The value of the non-exclusive tag is the average of the five highest salaries at the player’s position over the past five years or 120% of his previous salary (whichever is greater). For those tagged as transition players, it is the average of the 10 highest salaries at the position:
- QUARTERBACKS: $41,325,000 (non-exclusive), $35,267,000 (transition)
- RUNNING BACKS: $11,951,000 (non-exclusive), $9,765,000 (transition)
- OPEN RECEIVERS: $25,693,000 (non-exclusive), $22,523,000 (transition)
- TIGHT END: $14,241,000 (non-exclusive), $12,069,000 (transition)
- OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: $25,156,000 (non-exclusive), $22,745,000 (transition)
- DEFENSIVE ENDS: $24,727,000 (non-exclusive), $20,769,000 (transition)
- DEFENSIVE TACKLES: $23,468,000 (non-exclusive), $18,934,000 (transition)
- LINEBACKERS: $27,050,000 (non-exclusive), $22,612,000 (transition)
- CORNERBACKS: $20,357,000 (non-exclusive), $17,198,000 (transition)
- SAFETY: $19,626,000 (non-exclusive), $15,598,000 (transition)
- KICKERS: $6,459,000 (non-exclusive), $5,830,000 (transition)
In the first half of the year, teams evaluate viable players for recruitment and finally comes the NFL DRAFT, one of the last steps to seal and fill gaps in the required positions. This year, it will take place from April 24-26 in Green Bay and will be followed by rookie minicamps and then training periods.
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