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With NFL free agency beginning next week, teams around the league face a pressing question of whether to pay a premium in order to keep one of their own players off the open market.
The window for using the franchise tag officially closes at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs have already announced they’ll use the designation on wide receiver Tee Higgins and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, respectively. But that doesn’t necessarily mean each will end up signing the tender and staying on with their current teammates, as multiple reports have indicated a trade is possible in both scenarios. That could just be the start of a flurry of action, as a number of players – including Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen, Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Brian Burns, Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. – are all strong candidates to be tagged the time decisions must be made.
USA TODAY Sports will have updates on the latest news regarding the franchise tag throughout the day, so check back for all the latest:
Brian Burns receiving the franchise tag from the Carolina Panthers hardly resolves the star pass rusher’s future.
The two-time Pro Bowler has been a staple of trade speculation for the last two seasons, most notably at the 2022 trade deadline, when the Panthers turned down the Los Angeles Rams’ offer that included multiple first-round picks, per reports. And, unless Carolina quickly presents the long-term deal Burns has been seeking, it seems likely that he could be a tag-and-trade candidate.
So which teams might be interested in Burns?
Recall that at last year’s trade deadline, ESPN reported that the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears both expressed interest in Burns, as did the Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens.
The Bears eventually found their marquee pass rusher elsewhere in Montez Sweat, who was signed to a four-year, $98 million extension after being traded by the Washington Commanders. While Chicago could look to continue to build out a pass rush that ranked 31st in sacks with 30, it might not want to do so with another costly veteran.
The 49ers and Ravens each present intriguing options as contenders who could turn over a late first-round selection as part of a package to acquire Burns. And each could be losing top pass rushers in free agency – the 49ers with Chase Young and Ravens with Jadeveon Clowney.
A star-studded group of free-agent running backs will officially be led by Saquon Barkley, who will not receive the franchise tag, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the team’s plans.
Barkley, 27, officially hits the open market one year after he and the Giants clashed over his receiving of the franchise tag. The two sides eventually agreed to an adjusted deal worth $10.1 million fully guaranteed. Now, however, Barkley can try to seek out a more lucrative, long-term pact.
Giants GM Joe Schoen said last week Barkley is “a guy we would like to have back.”
For the second straight year, Brian Burns has received the franchise tag.
The Carolina Panthers again won’t be letting their star pass rusher hit free agency, instead hitting him with the designation that would give him a $24 million payout for 2024.
This, however, could just the latest point in an eventful offseason for Burns and the Panthers. The two-time Pro Bowl selection last season sat out a string of practices leading up to the opener before returning to action. While he notched eight sacks, the total was his fewest since his rookie season in 2019.
But regardless of whatever is next, new coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan won’t risk losing their top defender for nothing on the open market.
Jaguars OLB Josh Allen: GM Trent Baalke has already insisted Allen “will be a Jaguar” in 2024 after the star pass rusher’s breakout campaign.
Ravens DT Justin Madubuike: While Baltimore could be losing a number of key players from its defense, it’s safe to say Madubuike won’t be one of them. GM Eric DeCosta has indicated the franchise tag will be used if the team cannot hammer out a long-term agreement.
Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr.: Indianapolis hasn’t used the franchise tag since placing it on punter Pat McAfee in 2013, but GM Chris Ballard might not want to risk losing QB Anthony Richardson’s target. Pittman’s camp has acknowledged the likelihood of a tag if no deal is struck.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers S Antoine Winfield Jr.: Tampa took care of business with one of its top impending free agents in Mike Evans, who landed a two-year extension. With the team needing to pony up if it wants to keep QB Baker Mayfield, the tag is a sensible outcome for Winfield, who is coming off an All-Pro season.
Chicago Bears CB Jaylon Johnson: GM Ryan Poles has declared that his top cover man is “not going to go anywhere” and the team will “get something done.”
Bengals WR Tee Higgins: Cincinnati will have the option of keeping its high-powered receiving corps largely in tact, though Tyler Boyd is set to become a free agent.
Chiefs CB L’Jarius Sneed: GM Brett Veach has reiterated that keeping Sneed and star DT Chris Jones are the top priorities. With Jones costing an untenable $32 million if tagged, however, the team opted to give the designation to its smothering cornerback. Sneed, however, has been granted permission to seek a trade.
Panthers OLB Brian Burns: After managing to keep defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, new coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan also have their top defensive player back in the fold – at least for now.
Teams have until 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 5 to issue the franchise tag, though they have the option to rescind it before a player signs the tender. The two sides will then face a deadline, typically in mid-July, to agree to a multiyear extension. If one is not reached, the player can only play on a one-year deal for the upcoming season.
- Quarterback: $38.301 million
- Running back: $11.951 million
- Wide receiver: $21.816 million
- Tight end: $12.693 million
- Offensive line: $20.985 million
- Defensive end: $21.324 million
- Defensive tackle: $22.102 million
- Linebacker: $24.007 million
- Cornerback: $19.802 million
- Safety: $17.123 million
- Punter/kicker: $5.984 million
The designation is a tool that teams can use on one impending free agent per year. The “non-exclusive” tag, which is the much more frequently utilized of the two, affords its recipients a one-year tender at the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position over the last five years (or 120% of the player’s current salary if that figure is higher). While any player who receives the non-exclusive tag can sign an offer sheet with another team, his existing team can retain him by matching the terms. If the current team chooses not to match, the team signing the player must give two first-round picks in exchange.
The exclusive tag entirely restricts the affected player from negotiating with any other teams outside of their current club. But going that route is more costly for the team, as the salary for the one-year tender is the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position for the current year (or 120% of the player’s current salary if that figure is higher).
Players are permitted to be tagged up to three times, but each consecutive usage escalates the financial terms of the tender.
2024-03-05 17:26:15
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