The NFL offseason is a crucial period marked by strategic maneuvering and calculated decisions. For teams seeking to retain their most valuable players, franchise tags provide a vital tool. With a designated window from February 18 to March 4, 2025, NFL franchises have the opportunity to secure key talent, leveraging the intricacies of franchise and transition tags.
Understanding Franchise Tags
Franchise tags in the NFL come in two primary forms: exclusive and non-exclusive. Each has its own set of rules and financial calculations that impact both the player and the team. The non-exclusive franchise tag—calculated from either 120% of the player's previous salary or the average salary of the top five players at their position—enables players to negotiate with other teams, while allowing their current team the chance to match any outside offers. In contrast, the exclusive tag prevents players from engaging in discussions with other franchises, ensuring their talents remain solely with their existing team.
Transition tags use the average of the top ten salaries for the player's position and include a similar 120% provision. However, if another team makes an offer that isn't matched, the original team doesn't receive compensation. Over recent years, not all franchise-tagged players landed long-term contracts, with fewer than half securing such deals between 2021 and 2023. Nevertheless, the move has seen frequent application, having been exercised 22 times in the past three seasons alone.
The Stakes for 2025
The salary cap for 2025 is projected to range between $265 million and $275 million, providing teams with crucial flexibility to maneuver these high-stakes decisions. One player drawing significant attention is Sam Darnold who, currently on a $10 million one-year "bridge" deal with the Minnesota Vikings, represents a complex scenario. Darnold’s departure could potentially free up $65 million in cap space for the Vikings.
However, there's more at play than just salary cap considerations. An unnamed source has pointed to the possibility that the Vikings might not receive a 2026 compensatory draft pick by allowing Darnold to walk in free agency. As a result, the franchise tag isn't just a retention tool—it could also serve as a strategic pivot to trade him, given Darnold would likely be the market's top quarterback.
Implications Beyond Individuals
Other players are also affected by these financial gymnastics. Cincinnati Bengals fans watched their team slap a $21.816 million franchise tag on Tee Higgins. Meanwhile, Chris Godwin faces an uphill battle if tagged again, as calculation methods make such a move financially untenable for many teams.
"The franchise tag operated more like it was originally intended this year," said another unnamed source. It highlights the shift in how teams are deploying this mechanism—more focused on leveraging strategic advantage than on preserving superstar wages alone.
New Landscapes, New Teams
Franchise tags aren’t the only headline-grabbers in the NFL’s shifting landscape. Russell Wilson, once the face of the Denver Broncos, now dons the black and gold of the Pittsburgh Steelers. This highlights the perpetual motion of team dynamics and player careers amid the fiscal strategies that define the offseason.
As each team weighs its options, considering not just the salaries but the long-term impacts of these decisions, the 2025 season already promises compelling narratives. It remains an intricate dance of strategy and fiscal responsibility, emblematic of the relentless pursuit to sculpt rosters capable of seizing the Vince Lombardi Trophy.