The NFL franchise tag is always something teams look to use if they are afraid of losing a top-end pending free agent.
This offseason will be no different with multiple star players set to hit the open market later in March. Below, we provide you with an explanation about what the franchise tag is.
We also give you values for each postion while looking at those who have had the franchise tag placed on them already.
Related: Sportsnaut’s NFL trade rumors
What is the NFL franchise tag?
Under the current collective bargaining agreement, teams can place the dreaded franchise tag on pending free agents before the start of the new league year. A player who has said tag placed on him the first time will receive a one-year contract with an average of the top-five highest-paid players in his position in the NFL over the past five years or 120% of his current salary (whichever is greater). He can opt to sign said tender, hold out or potentially force a trade.
NFL rules are interesting as it relates to the franchise tag. The non-exclusive tag enables another team to sign said player away from his current squad by giving up two first-round picks in what essentially becomes a trade. The exclusive franchise tag prevents other teams from signing said player and would pay him the average of the five largest salaries in player contracts at his postion for that calendar year. Teams can only tag one player per offseason.
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2022 NFL franchise tag values, per the league
- Quarterback: $29.70 million
- Defensive end: $17.86 million
- Wide receiver: $18.42 million
- Linebacker: $18.70 million
- Cornerback: $17.29 million
- Defensive tackle: $17.40 million
- Offensive line: $16.66 million
- Safety: $12.91 million
- Running back: $9.57 million
- Tight end: $10.93 million
- Specialists: $5.22 million
Related: 2022 NFL salary cap situations
Player who have had the NFL franchise tag placed on them
Davante Adams, wide receiver, Green Bay Packers
- Davante Adams franchise tag value: $18.42 million
This one had been obvious for some time now. Once the Packers and Adams failed to come to terms on a long-term extension, they were going to place the franchise tag on him. No question.
Now that Aaron Rodgers has opted to return to the Packers, there’s a good chance that Adams will follow suit. Previously, rumors suggested that the Pro Bowl pass-catcher might request a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders being an option. That’s looking less likely.
Adams, 29, has been among the most-productive receivers in the NFL over the past four seasons, averaging 108 receptions for 1,328 yards and 12 touchowns while catching 70% of his targets. The hope here is that a long-term extension could be in the cards moving forward.
Mike Gesicki, tight end, Miami Dolphins
- Mike Gesicki franchise tag value: $10.93 million
It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that Miami opted to place the franchise tag on this star tight end. Three players at this position have now been handed the tag, telling us a story of teams valuing tight end at a high clip this offseason.
A second-round pick out of Penn State back in 2018, Gesicki has morphed into one of the more reliable pass-catching tight ends in the NFL for young quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Last season alone, he hauled in 73 receptions for 780 yards while catching 65% of his targets. Miami couldn’t afford to lose that type of safety valve for Tua, leading to Gesicki getting tagged.
Orlando Brown Jr., offensive tackle, Kansas City Chiefs
- Orlando Brown Jr. franchise tag value: $16.6 million
Finding a franchise blindside protector is key to winning in today’s NFL. That’s what the Chiefs did when they acquired Brown Jr. from the Baltimore Ravens last offseason.
In his first season with Kansas City, Brown Jr. earned his third conscutive Pro Bowl appearance. While he struggled to an extent in pass protection, Brown has proven he can be that guy. Given the bounty Kansas City paid to acquire him, it makes sense that the team did not let him hit free agency. As for a long-term contract, Brown Jr. is looking at north of $20 million annually.
Dalton Schultz, tight end, Dallas Cowboys
- Dalton Schultz franchise tag value: $10.93 million
The past two seasons have been awesome for this former Stanford standout in Big D. Schultz has tallied a combined 141 receptions for 1,423 yards and 12 touchdowns while catching 73% of his targets during that span. He also has eight drops on 193 targets.
That’s why it was so important for the cash-strapped Cowboys to place the franchise tag on their star tight end. He was a big-time safety valve for Dak Prescott last season and will continue to be.
Cam Robinson, offensive tackle, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Cam Robinson franchise tag value: $16.66 million
A full-time starter the past three seasons, Robinson had the franchise tag placed on him back in 2021. Jacksonville has now decided to follow that up with the tag once again despite the offensive tackle struggling in protection of Trevor Lawrence a season ago. It remains to be seen if this is a geat decision on the part of the Jaguars.
Chris Godwin, wide receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Chris Godwin franchise tag value: $18.42 million
Even after suffering a torn ACL late during the 2021 regular season, it was still clear that Godwin fit into the Buccaneers’ long-term plans. None of that changed once Tom Brady opted to announce his retirement.
For good reason. Godwin, 26, has been tremendous since Tampa Bay made him a third-round pick back in 2017. Since the start of the 2019 campaign, he’s averaging 83 receptions for 1,092 yards and seven touchdowns while catching 75% of his targets. The hope here is that Godwin and the Bucs can work out a long-term deal this offseason.
Jessie Bates, safety, Cincinnati Bengals
Jessie Bates franchise tag value: $12.9 million
A second-round pick out of Wake Forest back in 2018, Bates has morphed into one of the best free safeties in the NFL. He was one of the primary reasons Cincinnati earned a surprise trip to the Super Bowl back in February.
Back in 2020, Bates yielded a mere 54.3% completion rate and 70.7 QB rating when targeted. While he did regress this past season (122.0 QB rating), the Wake Forest product has proven that he has some solid rage in the defensive secondary.
Related: NFL offseason power rankings
David Njoku, tight end, Cleveland Browns
- David Njoku franchiss tag value: $10.93 million
Njoku played in 16 games this past season, finishing with 475 receiving yards and 17 first downs. Just over a year after he seemed to be on the outs in Cleveland, the 29th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft is now blossoming into an integral part of the Browns’ offense.
Given Cleveland’s offseason plans to spend, tight end Austin Hooper ($13.25 million cap hit) could be a potential cap casualty.