The NFL franchise tag deadline is Tuesday at 4pm (East US). Who will receive it this year? What does that mean for the free agent market? This is everything you need to know.
Which players received the franchise tag?
Kansas City Chiefs OL Tray Smith
Cincinnati Bengals WR Tea Higgins
Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys reportedly intend to franchise defensive tackle Osao Dizwa if both parties are unable to make a long-term deal before Tuesday’s deadline.
What is an NFL Franchise Tag?
A franchise tag is a designation that an NFL team can use to keep a set of players unlimited free agents and sign a one-year setting agreement. There are not only transition tags, but exclusive and non-exclusive tags.
An exclusive tag means that the contract must be the average of the top five salaries in that player’s position, or 120% of the player’s salary from the previous season, whichever is greater, whichever is greater. Additionally, players may not be allowed to negotiate with other teams and may not sign with another team if they refuse an offer.
A non-exclusive tag means that a contract must be the average of the top five cap hits in that player’s position, or 120% of the player’s salary from the previous season, whichever is greater, whichever is greater. Unlike exclusive tags, however, the player is allowed to negotiate with other teams, and if he receives the offer, his current team will have the opportunity to match. If the team chooses to not match, they are entitled to draft compensation equivalent to two first round draft topics for the Signing Team.
The transition tag is another designation that an NFL team uses to keep one set of players unlimited free agents and sign a contract that sets him up for another year. A contract must be above the average of the top 10 paychecks in the player position and there is no guaranteed compensation. Players can also negotiate with other teams.
What are the position values for the NFL franchise tag in 2024?
Quarterback: $40.242 million
Running Back: $13.64 million
Wide receiver: $23.959 million
Tight end: $13.826 million
Attack Line: $23.4 million
Defense: $22.0625 million
Defensive Tackle: $25.12 million
Linebacker: $25.45 million
Cornerback: $20.187 million
Safety: $18.601 million
Punter/Kicker: $6.313 million
LiveUpdate 11
Dibo Samuel says “No Bad Blood” after trade from the 49ers
This weekend, the San Francisco 49ers confirmed Devo Samuel’s trade demands and sent recipients to Washington commanders.
On Monday, Samuel revealed that there was something “no bad blood” between him and the organization. Samuel said he has a good relationship with general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan.
“The 49ers know where I stand with them, and it’s only in love. I love John and Kyle until I die,” Samuel wrote in X’s post.
The 49ers know where I stand with them, and it is nothing but love. Until John and Kyle die, bad blood is neither shape nor shape. They know more than I am grateful for everything I have done for me as a player.
– Deebo (@19problemz) March 3, 2025
San Francisco reportedly received a fifth pick from the commander in return. It’s a slightly lower return for Pro Bowl receivers, but this transaction supports the 49ers in salary cap situations.
Longtime OC Scott Linehan is reportedly joining Saints staff
The Saints in New Orleans are reportedly taking veteran Scott Reinhan to staff, according to Nick Underhill of New Leans.
Sources say the saints hire Scott Reinhan on their staff.
I have a lot of experience with Rinhan. He was the head coach of the Rams. OCs in Minnesota, Miami, Detroit and Dallas. Passed the LSU game coordinator. Recently, he worked as an attack analyst for Montana.
– Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) March 3, 2025
Rheinhan – That long resume includes a head coaching stint with St. at the time. The role of offensive coordinators with the Louis Rams and the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys will boost the saints to attack.
Shawn McVay says trading coupp is the “hardest decision” he had to make as a coach
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay spoke to receiver Coop Pap, one of the elephants in the room, when he spoke with reporters Monday.
Kupp, who spent his entire NFL career with the Rams last month, announced that his team was about to trade him “quickly.” “I disagreed with this decision and always believed it would start and end in LA,” Kupp wrote as part of a statement thanking Rams fans.
McVay told reporters Monday that deciding to trade Kupp was the “hardest decision” he was made as head coach.
“We felt that was the best direction for our soccer team… in terms of bringing together the whole puzzle. There are obviously a lot of layers to it,” McVay said.
Rams’ Sean McVay makes Cooper Cup available for trade.
– Adam Grosbard (@adamgrosbard) March 3, 2025
On whether McVay will get back the Kupp if the Rams can’t find someone to trade him: “I’m definitely not going to talk about,” McVay told reporters.
Matthew Stafford is with the Rams on a Sean McVay-by-Shawn McVay under an adjusted version of the current deal
Matthew Stafford will be staying with the Los Angeles Rams in the near future, and the team announced Friday that the veteran QB is stabbing a restructured deal. The terms of the deal were unknown at the time, but Rams head coach Sean McVay provided more details at a press conference Monday.
McVay told reporters that Stafford’s restructured deal was part of an existing extension that he signed in 2022. Stafford’s current deal continues until 2026, holding a salary cap hit of $49.7 million and $53.7 million for the next two seasons, respectively. In most cases, these amounts work for the team to coordinate.
The Rams coach hopes to have a similar conversation with Stafford next season, but adds that he hopes it won’t take much time.
Sean McVay: The Rams adjust Matthew Stafford’s financial terms based on existing expansions – operating on an annual basis. He is looking forward to this conversation again next year (and repeating that he wants Stafford as long as he wants to play). He hopes that 2026 will take even longer.
– March 3, 2025, Jourdan Rodrigue (@jourdanrodrigue)
McVay told reporters that since Stafford agreed to stay, he had “slept better than he had in the last few days.”
Cowboys and LB Mika Parsons will begin their extended speech
Star linebacker Mika Parsons will sign another season after the Cowboys won their fifth year option for $2132 million. However, the team wants to sign him a long-term contract extension before becoming a free agent.
The process reportedly began with NFL Scouting this week, paired with Dallas, which will launch a “general” contract talks with Parsons this week, Dallas Morning News reported.
Where can contract negotiations begin? Nick Bosa is the NFL’s highest-paid pass rusher, signing a five-year, $170 million contract in 2023, giving an average annual salary of $34 million. He had nine bags and 55 tackles in 14 games last season. Parsons registered 12 bags and 44 tackles, and was limited to 13 games due to an ankle injury.
NFL Top 25 Free Agent
When the NFL free agency “tampering” period opens on March 10th, who are the top players who can sign? Yahoo Sports’ Frank Schwab has gathered a list of the top 25 free agents in the open market.
It’s not a great crop for a team that needs a quarterback, but it will probably make Sam Darnold a guy in demand.
“It didn’t end with a high note, but Darnold was good for most of the 2024 season. And there’s a lot of despair at the quarterback around the NFL. Darnold’s case was his draft, the result he showed when he was finally in good condition.
Teams that need pass rushes, interior defensive linemen and offensive linemen will find many options.
Who is the best player on the market? Check out the full list of the top 25 free agents here.
