Let’s explain franchise tags in the NFL, and the players who might receive one in 2025
Super Bowl LIX is behind us and all 32 teams, along with their respective fan bases, have turned their attention to the NFL offseason.
Sure, the upcoming NFL Draft is a major focus of that conversation, and with the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine right around the corner teams and prospects are soon to descend upon Indianapolis. But February 18 marks the first day of the league’s franchise tag window. Beginning at 4:00 p.m. Eastern teams can use the franchise tag, with the window closing on March 4 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.
The 32 teams have three potential tags to use on players: The “transition” tag, the “exclusive” tag, and the “non-exclusive” tag. Let’s walk through the three potential tags, highlight what players received a franchise tag last season, and outline some players to watch in the days ahead as potential tag candidates.
Transition tag
The transition tag is not as common as the non-exclusive franchise tag. Under the transition tag, the player is given a one-year deal, with the salary determined by the cap percentage average of the ten largest prior year salaries at a player’s position, or 120 percent of his previous season’s salary, whichever is higher.
As you will see in a moment, using the last ten years of data this makes the transition tag cheaper than the non-exclusive, or exclusive, franchise tags.
However, there is a catch for the team. Players given the transition tag are free to negotiate with other teams, and can be extended an offer sheet. If the player’s current team cannot match the offer, that player is free to sign with the new team, and the current team does not receive any sort of compensation.
Exclusive tag
The exclusive franchise tag is also rather uncommon. Under this designation, the tagged player cannot negotiate with other teams. However, the price is higher. Under the exclusive franchise tag, the one-year salary for the player is either the average of the top five salaries of the player’s position for the current year, or 120 percent of his previous salary.
By using just the current year of salary data, that means the price tag will be higher than using the last ten years of data to generate an average — as you see under the transition tag — or the last five years of data as is done with the non-exclusive franchise tag.
A player can still end up playing for a different team during the next season, but only via a trade.
The exclusive tag is rare. Since 2012, only four players have received this tag: Drew Brees (2012), Von Miller (2016), Kirk Cousins (2017), and Le’Veon Bell (2018).
Non-exclusive tag
This is the most common tag used each offseason. Under the non-exclusive tag, the player is given a one-year deal based on an average of the top five salaries at the respective position over the last five years, or 120 percent of his previous salary, whichever is greater. So, it is cheaper than the exclusive franchise tag, but more expensive than the transition tag.
However, the player is free to negotiate with other teams. Should the player sign an offer sheet from another NFL team, the player’s current team has the right to match the offer. If they do not, they receive two first-round draft picks as compensation when the player leaves for a new team.
Can a player receive a tag two seasons in a row?
A player can receive a franchise tag up to three times, whether consecutively or non-consecutively. Each time, however, the cost skyrockets. A player that receives a franchise tag for the second time sees their salary automatically increase by 20%.
If the player receives the tag for a third time, their salary jumps by 44% from the previous year.
We will return to this hypothetical in a moment.
Current tag values
Here are the current estimated tag values for both the franchise tag, and the transition tag, for the 2025 season. These estimates have been calculated by Over the Cap, and are not official. The NFL will likely confirm the tag values for the 2025 season today.
Who received these tags last offseason?
Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images
Last season nine players received one of the three potential tags from their team.
Of those nine, eight received the “non-exclusive” tag from their clubs: Baltimore Ravens DT Justin Madubuike, Carolina Panthers pass rusher Brian Burns, Chicago Bears CB Jaylon Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins, Indianapolis Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen, Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
New England Patriots defensive back Kyle Dugger received the transition tag.
Of those nine players, six of them — Madubuike, Johnson, Pittman, Hines-Allen, Winfield, and Dugger — received a contract extension from the team that tagged them. Burns was traded to the New York Giants, where he received new contract. Sneed was also traded, to the Tennessee Titans, and received a contract from his new team.
Only Higgins played under the franchise tag.
Players to watch this season?
As we enter the 2025 offseason, there are a number of tag candidates around the league.
Starting with Higgins.
According to multiple reports, the Bengals are expected to place the non-exclusive tag on Higgins during this year’s franchise tag window. However, there are reports that the Bengals intend on signing the wide receiver to a long-term contract.
However, by placing the tag on Higgins for the second-season in a row as noted above that would mean Cincinnati would own him 20% increase over year’s number, instead of the normal tag amount.
Higgins played for $21.816 million in 2024, so a second tag would amount to $26.18 million in 2025.
Around the rest of the league many teams are right up against the salary cap, which could complicate plans on using the franchise tag at this juncture. Those teams include the Ravens (who have less than $3 million in effective cap space according to Over the Cap but might want to tag tackle Ronnie Stanley), the Dallas Cowboys (who are over the cap at the moment but could tag defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa if possible), the Texans (who are more than $2 million over the cap but could use the tag on Stefon Diggs), the Kansas City Chiefs (who are also over the cap but might wish to tag guard Trey Smith), and the Miami Dolphins (who are also over the cap but might want to free up space to use the tag on safety Jevon Holland).
Beyond those teams who have some financial housecleaning to take care of, there are some other fascinating situations. The New York Jets have a new head coach in former defensive back Aaron Glenn, and one of the first decisions he will face is whether to use the tag on cornerback D.J. Reed. The Jets have just under $17 million in cap space, so the non-exclusive tag might be too pricey for them, and Reed is expected to command serious attention should he hit free agency.
How do the Super Bowl Champions handle Zack Baun? The Philadelphia Eagles signed Baun to a one-year deal last offseason, and he was a revelation with his switch to an off-ball role. Baun secured All-Pro honors for the first time in his career and was at the heart of Vic Fangio’s defense. Then there is Josh Sweat, who is also set to hit free agency.
However, the Eagles have not used the tag since DeSean Jackson back in 2012.
Perhaps the most fascinating candidate? Sam Darnold. Darnold put together a magical season in 2024, stepping into the starting lineup when first-round selection J.J. McCarthy went down with a knee injury during preseason. Darnold had the Minnesota Vikings on the cusp of the #1 seed in the NFC, but a loss in Week 18 doomed Minnesota to the #5 seed, and they lost to the Los Angeles Rams on Wild Card Weekend.
Minnesota could use the tag to keep Darnold in the building for one more year, before handing the keys to McCarthy. Or, the Vikings could thank Darnold for his incredible year of service, let him hit free agency, and preserve the tag for a player like cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., who had a career-high six interceptions a season ago.
That would also require faith in McCarthy.
