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NFL Sets New Record for Franchise Tags
The NFL date for teams to utilize their franchise tags ended Feb. 24th. The Franchise tag is a designation a team may apply to a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. Each team has access each year to only one franchise tag (of either the exclusive or non-exclusive forms) and one transition tag. As a result, each team may only designate one player each year as that team's franchise player.
Photo – QB Peyton Manning - Colts
Usually reserved for a team’s top players at key positions, a franchise tag allows a team's manager the privilege of strategically retaining valuable free-agent players while seeking talent through the NFL Draft or other acquisitions without exceeding the League's salary cap. A team may also franchise tag a player with 2 or more years left on a contract.
The designated franchise player will have his one year salary guaranteed if he elects to play for the team that designated him with the franchise tag and if he does not negotiate a contract with another team.
If a club withdraws their offered contract the player immediately reverts to an unrestricted free agent.
Types of Franchise Tags
There are two types of franchise tag designations: the exclusive rights franchise tag, and non-exclusive rights franchise tag:
* An "exclusive" franchise player must be offered a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position as of a date in April of the current year in which the tag will apply, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. Exclusive franchise players cannot negotiate with other teams.
* A "non-exclusive" franchise player must be offered a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position in the previous year, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. A non-exclusive franchise player may negotiate with other NFL teams, but if he signs an offer sheet from another team, the original team has a right to match the terms of that offer, or if it does not match the offer and thus loses the player, is entitled to receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.
2011 Franchise-Tagged Players
14 Players Total set new NFL record for Tags
Exclusive Franchise Players
* Indianapolis Colts - Peyton Manning QB (Exclusive)
* Philadelphia Eagles - Michael Vick QB (Exclusive)
Non Exclusive Franchise Players
* Pittsburgh Steelers - Lamarr Woodley LB (Non-Exclusive)
* New England Patriots - Logan Mankins G (Non-Exclusive)
* New York Jets - David Harris LB (Non-Exclusive)
* San Diego Chargers - Vincent Jackson WR (Non-Exclusive)
* Baltimore Ravens - Haloti Ngata DT (Non-Exclusive)
* Kansas City Chiefs - Tamba Hali LB (Non-Exclusive)
* Minnesota Vikings - Chad Greenway LB (Non-Exclusive)
* Cleveland Browns - Phil Dawson K (Non-Exclusive)
* Carolina Panthers - Ryan Kalil C (Non-Exclusive)
* Jacksonville Jaguars - Marcedes Lewis TE (Non-Exclusive)
* Miami Dolphins - Paul Soliai DT (Non-Exclusive)
* Oakland Raiders - Kamerion Wimbley LB (Non-Exclusive)
2010 Franchise Tagged Players
* Pittsburgh Steelers - Jeff Reed K
* Green Bay Packers - Ryan Pickett DT
* Oakland Raiders - Richard Seymour DE (Exclusive)
* San Francisco 49ers - Aubrayo Franklin DT
* Seattle Seahawks - Olindo Mare K
2010 Non-exclusive Franchise Player Costs by Position
Position / Cost
Quarterback $16,405,000
Offensive Linemen (includes Offensive Tackle, Offensive Guard, Center) $10,731,000
Wide Receiver $9,521,000
Running Back (includes all Fullbacks and Halfbacks) $8,156,000
Tight end $5,908,000
Defensive End $12,398,000
Defensive Tackle $7,003,000
Linebacker $9,680,000
Cornerback $9,566,000
Safety $6,455,000
Kicker or Punter $2,814,000