Welcome to the NFL franchise tag window.
Tuesday is the primary day groups can use the franchise tag tender. The window will stay open till March 4 at 4 p.m. ET.
Throughout this time, all 32 golf equipment can tag one participant scheduled to turn out to be an unrestricted free agent on March 12, the beginning of the brand new league yr. Doing so would preserve that participant with the group for the 2025 season.
The franchise tag earnings are based mostly on every place’s high 5 annual salaries. If a participant is tagged a number of occasions, the franchise tag wage will increase every time.
9 gamers acquired the franchise tag tender a yr in the past, together with go rusher Brian Burns and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who had been each traded. The Giants acquired Burns in a commerce with the Panthers, and the Chiefs shipped Sneed to the Titans.
Now it’s time to have a look at the 5 gamers who might obtain the franchise tag this offseason.
VIKINGS QB SAM DARNOLD
The Vikings are in a singular place relating to Darnold and the quarterback place. A yr in the past, the Vikings signed Darnold to a one-year, $10 million contract as a stop-gap answer. Minnesota additionally chosen J.J. McCarthy tenth general within the 2024 NFL Draft.
Darnold turned his alternative right into a profession yr. He handed for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and was named to his first Professional Bowl. Darnold additionally helped the Vikings to a 14-3 document within the NFC earlier than they misplaced to the Rams within the Wild-Card spherical.
Now, the Vikings might want to determine if Darnold is price preserving for one more yr or if they offer the keys to McCarthy, who missed final season due to a knee damage. Darnold is searching for long-term safety, and the Vikings might not wish to give it to him. He light down the stretch after throwing only one landing go throughout Minnesota’s remaining two video games in losses to the Lions and Rams.
The Vikings might determine to franchise tag Darnold, however that might exceed $41 million per Over The Cap. That quantity might be too wealthy for Minnesota, particularly after choosing a quarterback lower than a yr in the past.
BENGALS WR TEE HIGGINS
Cincinnati has an fascinating determination to make relating to Higgins. The group positioned the franchise tag on him final yr, which led to his commerce request. As a substitute of transferring on, Higgins performed on the $21.8 million tag final season.
If the Bengals place the tag on Higgins once more, he would earn round $26.1 million if he indicators it. The difficulty for them is Higgins’ teammate, Ja’Marr Chase, can also be searching for an extension and can probably wish to be paid high receiver cash after registering 127 catches, 1,708 yards, and 17 touchdowns final season.
The Bengals plan to make use of the franchise tag with Higgins if they can not signal him to a long-term deal, in keeping with Sports activities Illustrated. Contemplating they may even look to maintain go rusher Trey Henderickson previous the 2025 season, cash might be tight for the Bengals.
TEXANS WR STEFON DIGGS
The Texans are projected to be $2 million over the wage cap getting into the offseason. Clearly, they’ll trim that quantity forward of free company, however will they discover a strategy to preserve Diggs?
Franchise tagging Diggs might be doable, however spending $25.6 million on a receiver who’s 31 and coming off a major damage is questionable. He’s presently recovering from a season-ending ACL tear final season. In eight video games earlier than his damage, Diggs caught 47 passes for 496 yards and three touchdowns.
A franchise tag choice is likely to be too wealthy for Houston, however bringing Diggs again on a one-year prove-it deal is likely to be good.
EAGLES LB ZACK BAUN
Howie Roseman is among the finest normal managers within the NFL. Roseman should make some powerful selections after the Eagles received their second Tremendous Bowl.
A kind of is Baun, a key catalyst in the course of the Eagles championship run. He signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract final offseason. He parlayed that right into a first-team All-Professional marketing campaign after ending with 93 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 5 pressured fumbles.
The linebacker franchise tag value is $27 million, and the Eagles solely have $18 million in cap house. So Roseman might want to get artistic if he needs to maintain Baun and a few of their key gamers.
DOLPHINS S JEVON HOLLAND
Earlier than deciding on Holland, the Dolphins should get cap-compliant earlier than free company. Miami is $5.4 million over the wage cap. Putting the tag on Holland might make some sense, however a $19.6 million price ticket might be too wealthy for a Dolphins group that should shore up a number of holes.
Holland is coming off his worst statistical season within the league. He registered 62 tackles and nil interceptions on a Dolphins group that completed fourth in complete protection.
The probably state of affairs is the Dolphins permitting Holland to enter free company. If that’s the case, a group just like the Jets, which is a major want at security, might make sense for Holland.
