Ready, set, go! Tuesday, Feb. 23, marks the official start of the two-week window for NFL teams like the Seattle Seahawks to use either a franchise or transition tag. The window closes on March 9, ahead of the start of the new league year on March 17.
Teams can elect to use one of three types of tags: non-exclusive franchise tag, exclusive franchise tag or the transition tag. While each option has its own nuances, clubs can only use one tag each year, and a rescinded tender does count as a tag.
The non-exclusive tag is most commonly used and consists of a one-year tender of the average of the top five salaries at that player’s position over the last five seasons or 120% of his previous salary – whichever is greater.
Under the non-exclusive tag, players CAN negotiate with other teams but the current clubs do have the right to match any offer OR receive two first-round draft picks as compensation should the player sign elsewhere.
Since the tender amounts for each position are based on the salary cap for the upcoming season, teams are having to use estimates as the official cap for 2021 has yet to be set.
[lawrence-related id=71471]