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NFL franchise tag: Values per position

By Brad Weiss

Oct 23, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Berry (29) is introduced prior to a game against the New Orleans Saints at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 27-21. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Berry (29) is introduced prior to a game against the New Orleans Saints at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 27-21. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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February 15 is the day teams can begin to place the franchise tag on their pending free agents. Here are the values per position.

On Wednesday, February 15, all 32 teams in the NFL will begin to place their franchise tag on pending free agents. A franchise tag gives the player’s team an extension to sign them to a long-term deal, while ensuring they will play for that team at least one more season. If the team places a non-exclusive tag on them, they can receive offers from other teams, with the original team getting the opportunity to match the deal.

The franchise tag period is a two-week period that will end on March 1. Those players not tagged will become free agents, while those who are tagged will have until July to sign a long-term deal with their team. Some big names played under the franchise tag in 2016, and you can expect a few big names to do the same in 2017.

Cap values for franchise tags are the average of the top-5 salaries at each position heading into the season. A player who is tagged will earn that salary, or 120 percent of their current salary, whichever is greater. The NFL salary cap is going to go up in 2017, and those who do play under the franchise tag are likely to be in for quite a payday.

Here is a look at the projected cap values according to Joel Corry of CBSSPorts.com with an expected salary cap of 168MM.

  • Quarterback: $21.395MM
  • Running back: $12.377MM
  • Wide receiver: $15.826MM
  • Tight end: $9.894MM
  • Offensive line: $14.444MM
  • Defensive end: $16.955MM
  • Defensive tackle: $13.468MM
  • Linebacker: $14.754MM
  • Cornerback: $14.297MM
  • Safety: $10.961MM
  • Punter/kicker: $4.863MM

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Last year, Kirk Cousins of the Washington Redskins took the franchise tag and put together another solid season. Eric Berry of the Kansas City Chiefs also played on the franchise tag, though he is not likely to do that again in 2017. Playing under a franchise tag is a bit of a risk for the player, and while it is usually a solid payday, an injury could cost them millions of dollars in future earnings.

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