Tag: window

New Orleans Saints’ history with the franchise tag

New Orleans Saints’ history with the franchise tag: Five players have received the tag in team history, from Marcus Williams to Darren Howard

The franchise tag has been a useful tool for teams to keep their best players in town since its inception back in the 1993 collective bargaining agreement, but the New Orleans Saints have used it sparingly — issuing the tag to just five players since 2004, though it was most recently deployed in 2021. These fully-guaranteed, one-year contracts often buy time for a long-term extension to manifest but the added pressure can damage relationships between players and management.

And the results have been hit-or-miss for New Orleans. Often players who were tagged wound up signing a multiyear deal with the Saints. Sometimes, though, it led to frayed relationships and a swift exodus. Let’s recap each situation now that the NFL’s franchise tag window has opened, even if the Saints lack candidates for it in 2023:

Seahawks did not use franchise or transition tag as deadline passes

The window is now closed for NFL teams to use either the franchise or transition tag. The deadline passed and the Seahawks used neither.

The window has now closed for NFL teams like the Seattle Seahawks to have used either a franchise or transition tag on a potential free agent. The deadline for the two-week period was set for March 9 at 1:00 p.m. PT.

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.

There was some thought the deadline would be extended again this season for the final numbers to come down but the window has now officially closed.

The Seahawks seemed unlikely to use a tag from the getgo, but there were a couple of possible options, including running back Chris Carson and cornerback Shaquill Griffin.

Seattle has only used the tag a couple of times over the last decade, defensive end Frank Clark in 2019 and kicker Olindo Mare in 2010.

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Seahawks not expected to use franchise tag on CB Shaquill Griffin

The Seattle Seahawks are not expected to use the franchise tag on cornerback Shaquill Griffin ahead of the NFL deadline on March 9.

NFL teams are just hours away from the franchise and transition tag deadline of March 9 at 1:00 p.m. PT – assuming the window isn’t extended awaiting the release of the official salary cap number for 2021.

The Seahawks, who rarely use a tag anyway, aren’t expected to pull the trigger on cornerback Shaquill Griffin, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

There was some thought that either Griffin or running back Chris Carson would be candidates this year.

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.

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Window now open for NFL teams, Seahawks to use franchise or transition tag

The official window is now open for NFL teams – and the Seattle Seahawks – to use franchise or transition tags ahead of the new league year.

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.

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NFL’s legal tampering period begins today

The legal tampering period of free agency is set to begin at noon ET on Monday, March 16.

The NFL’s legal tampering period begins on Monday.

The 2020 NFL league year and the start of the NFL’s free agency period are set to begin on March 16th at 3:00 p.m. CT, but teams can begin negotiations with free agents on March 14th at 11:00am CT.

The legal tampering period is essentially a two-day window, during which teams can begin communicating and negotiating with representation for free agents. This period plays a large part in the spectacle that is NFL free agency. It will also help determine where some of the bigger free agents will end up across the league.

There are plenty of different rules from the NFL surrounding what exactly legal tampering entails. Here’s a look at the things teams can do and what they can’t do.

What you can do during the legal tampering period:

  • Applicable to unrestricted free agents only.
  • Negotiate “all aspects of an NFL player contract” with a player’s representation.

What you can’t do during the legal tampering period:

  • Teams can’t talk to restricted free agents or exclusive rights free agents during this two-day period.
  • Teams can’t negotiate directly with players, even if they act as their own representation.
  • Contracts can’t be executed or agreed to in principle during the legal tampering window.
  • Players can’t take team visits during this period or make travel arrangements for visits.
  • Contract announcements can’t be made by teams until the new league year begins.

Tampering violations can result in steep consequences, including the loss of draft picks, and fines from the NFL. Chiefs fans are familiar with the harshest of consequences. The league came down hard on Kansas City for supposedly tampering with free-agent wide receiver Jeremy Maclin.

The Chiefs have 20 players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents on the 18th of March. Here’s a quick gallery list of those players:

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K.C. currently has around $18.4 million in cap space according to Spotrac. That number doesn’t factor in the franchise tag, club options or exclusive rights free agent tenders. During the legal tampering period, the Chiefs would be wise to do their diligence on some replacement options for several players departing in free agency. On the defensive side of the ball, they could be looking at linebackers and cornerbacks. On offense, they could look to add depth at any number of positions.