The franchise tag window got underway on Feb. 21, 2023, and ran through until March 7. In our franchise tag tracker below, we have the full list of who has been given either a franchise or transition tag and which type they’ve received.
2023 NFL Franchise Tag Tracker
- Daron Payne, DT | Washington Commanders
$18.95 million - Evan Engram, TE | Jacksonville Jaguars
$11.345 million - Tony Pollard, RB | Dallas Cowboys
$10.091 million - Josh Jacobs, RB | Las Vegas Raiders
$10.091 million - Saquon Barkley, RB | New York Giants
$10.091 million - Lamar Jackson, QB | Baltimore Ravens
$32.45 million
How Do The Different Tags Work?
Two different types of franchise tags can be applied to players and three tags in total. The two franchise tags are called the “exclusive franchise tag” and the “non-exclusive franchise tag.” The names are fairly self-explanatory. One tag allows other teams to negotiate with a tagged player, and the other prohibits it without permission from the team applying the tag.
The non-exclusive franchise tag comes with a heavier price for the team applying it. Players who get the non-exclusive tag earn the average of the five highest-paid players at their position following free agency. That figure is usually much higher than the cost of the non-exclusive franchise tag.
The price of the non-exclusive franchise tag is set as the average of the top five salaries at the position over the previous five seasons. It is then corrected for the current year’s salary cap. While that can be a significantly cheaper option, it does allow that player to test the open market.
In the event that a player on the non-exclusive franchise tag agrees to an offer sheet from another team, the original team has the right to match. If they choose not to match, then the team that has the offer sheet with the player must send two first-round picks to the original team in return for that player.
The third type of tag is the transition tag. The transition tag is marginally cheaper than the non-exclusive franchise tag and serves a similar function. The player can test free agency and sign an offer sheet with a new team. The original team will have the right to match. However, the big difference is that if they choose not to match, then they receive nothing in return from the team acquiring the player.