Tag: NFL franchise tag

Price for potential franchise tag of Antoine Winfield Jr. set

Winfield Jr. has been a notable candidate for the tag this offseason, and we now know exactly how much that tag will cost.

The financial world of the NFL experienced a seismic change Friday afternoon.  The NFL announced its 2024 salary cap will be $255.4 million for each team next season. It’s a $30 million jump from 2023’s salary cap.

The change gives way to new franchise and transition tag numbers, which will open up options for the Bucs to reclaim players during the offseason.

Tampa Bay’s 2023 All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield is one of the biggest priorities for the Bucs to sign during the offseason. Now, if Tampa Bay  franchise tags the safety, it’ll cost the team $17.1 million next season.

It’s expected the Bucs will opt to franchise tag Winfield rather than signing him to a long-term deal. If tagged, he’ll receive nearly $5 million more than what he would’ve been tagged for in 2023.

NFL free agency: Looking at the Ravens history with the franchise tag

With 27 pending free agents and several key players looking for big money, we’re taking a look at the Baltimore Ravens’ history with the NFL franchise tag

When the Chiefs Super Bowl parade was completed, the NFL world started to focus on 2024 entirely and the critical offseason that awaits.

As teams around the league prepare for the NFL scouting combine, the franchise tag window opens on Tuesday and closes on March 5.

Any unrestricted free agent not tagged in that period will be able to sign with any suitor when the new league year and free agency opens on March 13. (The negotiating period, when teams can reach out to agents of potential free agents to start talks, begins March 11.)

Lamar Jackson was among six players tagged last year, with two, including defensive tackle Daron Payne (Giants) and tight end Evan Engram (Jaguars) signing long-term extensions.

The 2024 salary cap hasn’t been set yet, but it’s expected to land north of $240 million, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

Baltimore has a long history of tagging players and getting a deal done at a later date. They have done so with five of their previous seven franchise-tagged players.

With the new league year fast approaching and Justin Madubuike or Patrick Queen likely candidates for the designation, we’re looking at the Ravens’ history with the franchise tag.

Franchise tag period for NFL begins Tuesday

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is a likely candidate to be put on the tag in the coming weeks.

The NFL’s franchise tag period is opening up on Tuesday, Feb. 20, and there’s a good chance the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will use it on one of their star players.

Bucs safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was named a First-Team All-Pro for the 2023 season and there’s no doubt that Tampa Bay wants him back — that’s where the franchise tag comes in. Because deals for quarterback Baker Mayfield and wideout Mike Evans are potentially on the way, Winfield Jr. may have to wait a year before a full extension and play on the tag for 2024.

The franchise tag is an option that every team in the NFL has to give out to one of their players during any given season. The tag ensures that a player hitting free agency will return to the team before free agency begins, giving them a one-year salary that isn’t less than either the average of the top-five salaries at that player’s position or a salary 120% larger than what that player made last year  — whichever of those numbers happens to be higher. CBS Sports projects this number to be $16,258,000 for the upcoming season.

Should Winfield Jr. be franchised tagged, he’d play with the Bucs for one more season in 2024 and then would have to delay his contract negotiations to 2025. While Winfield Jr. appears to enjoy his time in Tampa, some players don’t take kindly to the tag due to the insecurity it brings for coming seasons. Bucs fans will find out how he’ll take it if he is even tagged at all in the next few weeks — the deadline for tags ends on March 5.

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NFL franchise tag tracker: RBs lead the way in 2023

Running backs received the most franchise tags by position as the deadline to tag was March 7 at 4:00 p.m. ET.

The NFL deadline to announce franchise tag players passed on March 7 at 4:00 p.m. ET.

There were six players tagged with half of them being running backs.

All players were given the non-exclusive franchise tag, which is the most-used among the three tags available. All tags are one-year tenders.

The non-exclusive is the average of the top-5 salaries at a player’s position over the past five seasons, or 120% of his previous salary — whichever is more. The tagged player can still negotiate with other teams, and the current team has the right to match any offer or accept two first-round picks as compensation should the player sign with another team.

The exclusive tag cuts out the player’s right to negotiate. However, that means the pay scale, which is the current average salary versus the averaging of the past five seasons, increases. Typically quarterbacks receive this type of tag, but one notable player in this tag class did not.

The third tag is the transition tag, which is the average of the top-10 salaries at a position. The original team still has first refusal rights, yet they will receive no compensation if they choose not to match the deal.

Here is a look at the six players tagged ahead of 2023 free agency.

Philadelphia Eagles history with the NFL franchise tag

With 18 pending free agents and several key players looking for big money, we’re taking a look at the Philadelphia Eagles’ history with the NFL franchise tag

The moment the Chiefs Super Bowl parade was completed, the NFL world started to completely focus on 2023 and the important offseason that awaits.

As teams around the league prepare for the NFL scouting combine, the franchise-tag window opened up on Tuesday and closes on March 7.

Any unrestricted free agent not tagged in that period will be able to sign with any suitor when the new league year and free agency opens on March 15. (The negotiating period, when teams can reach out to agents of potential free agents to start talks, begins March 13.)

Eight players were tagged last year, with four including receiver Davante Adams, signing long-term extensions.

Adams was traded from the Packers to the Raiders.

Bengals safety Jessie Bates III, Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz, Chiefs offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki all played the 2022 season on the tag.

With the salary cap soaring to $224.8 million in 2023, teams will have plenty of money, but Philadelphia will have key decisions to make on a handful of critical contributors.

With the new league year fast approaching and Javon Hargrave or C.J. Gardner-Johnson likely candidates for the designation, we’re taking a look at the Eagles’ history with the franchise tag.

Daron Payne is one of ESPN’s top five free agents in 2023

Daron Payne will be in demand if he hits the open market.

The Washington Commanders have some big decisions to make over the next month. Should Washington apply the franchise tag to defensive tackle Daron Payne? Should the Commanders approach Payne and safety Kamren Curl about potential contract extensions?

These are good problems to have for Washington. Yes, the Commanders need a quarterback, they always need a quarterback, but they are apparently content going into 2023, giving Sam Howell a chance to win the job. That leaves Washington looking at a veteran backup/spot starter, such as Taylor Heinicke, Jacoby Brissett, or Andy Dalton.

Washington’s biggest decision remains what to do with Payne.

If he hit the open market, he would receive a huge contract. Count Matt Bowen of ESPN as a believer in Payne.

Bowen, a former Washington safety, has been an outstanding analyst at ESPN for years. He recently ranked his top 50 free agents for 2023 and ranked Payne No. 4 behind Lamar Jackson, Orlando Brown Jr. and Javon Hargrave.

Payne posted career numbers in his contract season with 11.5 sacks and 32 solo tackles from the defensive tackle position. A big, powerful mover at 6-foot-3, 320 pounds, Payne is a disruptive defender with foot quickness and lower-body agility who can play in multiple fronts. His pass rush win rate when lined up inside (12.7%) ranked 12th in the NFL. He could be in line for a big deal based on his 2022 film.

Perhaps Washington is content with allowing Payne to play on a one-year tag for another season to see if he can repeat his 2022 performance. That’s understandable, but it’s also dangerous. The Commanders allowed Kirk Cousins and Brandon Scherff to play on franchise tags for two seasons and lost both for a third-round compensatory pick.

Washington’s strategy should be either to franchise Payne and try to hammer out a deal or apply the tag and shop him.

Payne has a lot going in his favor. In addition to NFL teams coveting interior pass rushers, Payne will be 26 when the 2023 season begins, coming off his best NFL season.

The Commanders already paid Jonathan Allen in 2021. Allen has been the more consistent player and the team leader. Does Washington want to pay two defensive tackles top-of-the-market contracts?

How Washington handles the Payne situation will be one of the more fascinating storylines to watch over the next six weeks.

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Examining the contract details for former Washington guard Brandon Scherff

As expected, Brandon Scherff got paid. Inside are the numbers from his new deal with the Jaguars.

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The Washington Commanders will have a new starter at right guard for the first time since 2014. Former Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff agreed to terms with the Jacksonville Jaguars Monday, ending his seven-year run in Washington.

Washington’s chances at signing Scherff ended when it applied the second franchise tag. Scherff was guaranteed $18 million the moment he signed the second franchise tag, meaning his agent would always negotiate off that number. Kansas City’s Joe Thuney was the NFL’s highest-paid guard in 2021, with an average annual value (AAV) of $16 million per season.

In January, Washington general manager Martin Mayhew told the media the Commanders offered Scherff a long-term deal last summer that would’ve made Scherff the highest-paid guard in NFL history. The problem was the AAV was closer to Thuney’s number, not the franchise tag, which was a non-starter for Scherff’s agent.

There’s also the fact that Scherff didn’t want to be in Washington any longer.

Now, let’s get into the details of Scherff’s new contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, which will be official Wednesday.

Scherff will sign a three-year contract worth $49.5 million, with $30 million guaranteed, including a $15 million signing bonus.

2022

  • $1.5 million base
  • $1 million per game roster bonus
  • $500,000 workout bonus
  • $7,647,059 cap hit (3% of Jacksonville’s salary cap)
  • $30 million dead money

2023

  • $13.5 million base
  • $1 million per game roster bonus
  • $500,000 workout bonus
  • $20 million cap hit (8.9% of Jacksonville’s salary cap)
  • $23.5 million dead money

2024

  • $15 million base
  • $1 million per game roster bonus
  • $500,000 workout bonus
  • $23 million cap hit (8.4% of Jacksonville’s salary cap)
  • $5 million dead money

All cap figures courtesy of OvertheCap.com. 

2022 NFL free agency: Potential Eagles target Chris Godwin expected to remain with Bucs

2022 #NFL #freeagency: Potential #Philadelphia #Eagles target #ChrisGodwin will either be tagged or sign a long-term deal with the #Buccaneers

One of the top wide receivers set to hit the open market will be remaining with his current team for at least the next calendar year. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the Buccaneers will either place the franchise tag on wide receiver Chris Godwin or reach a new deal with the injured star.

Because the franchise tag puts Godwin among the five highest-paid players at his position, his salary for the 2022 season will cost the Bucs roughly $19.18 million after paying him $15.98 million to play under the franchise tag last season.

Godwin is coming off a 1,103-yard receiving season despite missing the final three games with a torn ACL and MCL, which he underwent surgery to repair on Jan. 3, and he’s logged 1,000-yard seasons catching passes from both Tom Brady and Jameis Winston.

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2022 NFL franchise tag tracker: Which players have been tagged?

Here is a list of all the players who have been designated with a franchise tag for the 2022 season.

The deadline for NFL teams to designate pending free agents with a franchise tag or a transition tag is today at 4:00 p.m. ET, or 1:00 p.m. PT. The Seattle Seahawks have yet to make a move and aren’t expected to. However, several stars around the league have been hit with the tag.

Here is a list of all the players who have been designated with a franchise tag for the 2022 season.

2022 NFL free agency: Potential Eagles target Jessie Bates tagged by the Bengals

2022 #NFL #freeagency: Potential #Eagles target #JessieBates tagged by the #Bengals

One of the top safeties set to hit the open market will be remaining with his current team for at least the next calendar year. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the Bengals have placed the franchise tag on star safety Jessie Bates.

Because the franchise tag puts Bates among the five highest-paid players at his position, his salary for the 2022 season will be $13.5 million minimum.

Bates, 25, has been a starter for the Bengals since being selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. In 63 career regular-season games, Bates has logged 408 tackles, 35 pass defenses, two forced fumbles, and 10 interceptions.

This past postseason, Bates led all players with six passes defended and earned the highest Pro Football Focus grade (88.1) among safeties.

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