What is a franchise tag in the NFL? Explanation and examples
With the NFL ’s offseason now underway, you’ve probably heard the phrase “ franchise player” being tossed around all over. If you’re unsure what it means and how franchise tags work, fear not; we’ve got you covered with a breakdown of how it operates. An Introduction to the Franchise Tag It’s been over 30 years since the NFL introduced the franchise tag system in 1993. Let’s make this simple if you’re unsure what that means. In principle, the end goal here is to allow NFL owners to secure the services of one player on a lucrative one-year contract. Said contract is referred to as a ‘ franchise Inay; in the time that has passed since its inception, the framework of it has changed. Yestill remains a mechanism that is only used on special occasions and is, indeed, only utilized by less than half of the league’s teams. NFL Structures 101: The franchise tag? In short, the franchise tag is a designation that allows NFL teams to select a single player who is set to become an unrestric...