Today marks the opening of the two-week window during which NFL teams can use the franchise tag. This allows teams the ability to apply some restrictions on an otherwise unrestricted free agent each year. There are two versions of the franchise tag. Any player that receives the nonexclusive version may still negotiate with other teams. An offer sheet may be signed. The franchise player's current team has seven days to match the offer sheet. If the team doesn't match, the contract becomes effective and the new team gives the former team two first round draft choices. A pretty steep price. The exclusive version is simply that. The franchise player may not negotiate with any other team. Each franchise tag has a corresponding price dependent on the position of the player. The nonexclusive franchise tag is determined by calculating the average salary-cap percentage of the franchise tag in five prior years. This keeps the growth of the tag from outpacing the growth of the cap. Basically, the nonexclusive tag will bring a nice one-year salary for the player but it won't necessarily put them among the highest paid in the game. The exclusive franchise tag is typically much higher. The player receives an amount equal to the five highest-paid players at the position in the current year, as of late April.
The franchise tag has always been something of a puzzle. By definition, it seems like a franchise designation would be a compliment to a player. It certainly comes with a very nice one-year salary. It also comes with restrictions. As a result, players typically hate it. The players aren't allowed to negotiate with other teams. The nonexclusive version allows for some testing of the market but the cost of two first round picks prevents anything serious from actually happening. Most importantly, for the tagged player, the one year franchise contract has no signing bonus. Especially since the last CBA, the second contract is the best contract. Often, it's the best contract that the player ever sees. The franchise tag puts that contract and the often big signing bonus off for another year. It's a nice one-year deal but it's just that. It doesn't bring the longer term security that all players seek.
The franchise tagged player and the franchise usually have a mutual interest in getting something settled. As a result, I've never really understood the inability to do so. Perhaps it's because I've never had an opportunity to have serious discussions over dollars like this. I don't know. I do know that the player wants some long term security and the team wants the player on the team for the next several years. So, just come to an agreement. Easy? Right?
Anyway, franchise tagging season begins today. The biggest name that might bring the franchise tag is probably New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham. It doesn't sound like he's too thrilled about the possibility. The one player on the Minnesota Vikings that might be a tagging target is defensive end Everson Griffen. I doubt that it happens as I'm pretty sure that the Vikings will get Griffen signed before the start of free agency on March 11. Players whose tagging possibilities interest me are Tennessee Titans corner Alterraun Verner, Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Arthur Jones, and Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Lamarr Houston. I wouldn't mind seeing some combination of those players on the Vikings defense in 2014.
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