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NFL 2015 Franchise Tag Explained and Value by Position

By Reid Hanson

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Dec 28, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Redskins in the second quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL Franchise Tag is perhaps the biggest negotiating chip currently held by NFL ownership. The values of the tag vary, position-to-position and year-to-year. Before we break down all of the predicted values of the Franchise Tag in 2015, let’s first explain what the Franchise Tag is.

"Simply put: The NFL Franchise Tag is a 1-year guaranteed contract given to a player by his current team that prohibits the player from entering free agency. The amount is set by the league and nonnegotiable, although a long-term deal may still be agreed upon and substituted."

There are two types of Franchise Tags: Exclusive and Non-Exclusive. A club is allowed to use one franchise tag per season. They may use either the Exclusive or Non-Exclusive, but not both. Many decline to use either. Note: in 2014 only four players played under a franchise tag down from only 8 the year before.

  • The Exclusive Franchise Tag prevents the player from negotiating with any other club. He will be paid the average salary of the top five paid NFL players at his position, or at 120% of his previous season’s salary (whichever is larger)
  • The Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag allows the player to still speak with outside clubs and negotiate a deal. If he signs with another team, his previous team (who actually tagged him) has the right to match the offer or else receive two 1st round draft picks as compensation for losing the franchised player. The amount of compensation is slightly different than the Exclusive Tag since it averages the last 5 years tag value to come to an amount. If 120% of last season’s salary is still greater, the player will be paid 120%.

Because of the cost, and often ill-will from players, most NFL franchises only use the Franchise Tag as a bargaining chip, and avoid actually applying it.

Players do not generally like the Franchise Tag because it’s only a one year contract that doesn’t protect them long-term against injury. A long-term contract with more guaranteed money provides more stability and financial security, therefore it’s usually preferred.

Teams like the Franchise Tag because the players want to avoid being tagged at all costs. Rather than being tagged, a player will often compromise more than they would otherwise want, in order to get a long-term deal completed.

Teams avoid the actual application of the Franchise Tag for two reasons:

  1. It’s extremely expensive to sign someone year to year. Long-term contracts allow the money to be spread throughout the length of the deal. Franchise Tags are fully guaranteed and extremely costly since they all count against one year’s salary cap.
  2. Tagged players will often resent the club that signed them to the Franchise Tag. They can skip offseason workouts and holdout of preseason camps. They can subsequently become much more difficult to sign to a long-term deal in coming years.

The Franchise Tag is most useful when it’s not used. The threat of it is usually enough to get a deal done and therefore make both parties happy – More financial flexibility under the salary cap for the club, and more long-term financial security for the player.

Every year the Franchise Tag amount changes since it’s based on Top-5 average salary per position, and the top 5 change year to year. Albert Breer from NFL.com took a hard look at the numbers and predicted the following Franchise Tag amounts by position:

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Quarterback           $18.51M

Running Back           $10.93M

Wide Receiver         $12.8M

Tight End                    $8.33M

Offensive Lineman $12.92

Defensive Tackle     $11.17M

Defensive End           $14.78M

Linebacker                 $13.17M

Cornerback                 $13.05M

Safety                           $9.60M

Kicker/Punter              $4.12M

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