Freedom isn't free and neither is free agency.
Countless NFL players are set to hit the open market after the conclusion of the 2025 season, but not everyone will be afforded that opportunity. Whether they like it or not, the NFL teams control the immediate future before free agency begins.
Players are subjected to the franchise tag period before being able to shake free. This year, the window opened on Feb. 17 and will close on March 3, marking two weeks of potential uncertainty for players with expired contracts. That's because the teams can slap a tag on a player of their choice, essentially hitting the pause button on their ability to leave.
The tag is a one-year, fully guaranteed deal that will keep that player with their current team for the upcoming season. There are exceptions and some negotiations are nicer than others, but the gloves can really come off this time of year and spark potential trade requests or holdouts down the road.
Here is everything to know about the franchise tag in 2026, including the three options, potential candidates and more.
NFL franchise tag tracker 2026
This section will be updated when franchise tags are made official.
What is the franchise tag?
The franchise tag is a one-year, fully guaranteed deal that a team can give to a player in order to prevent them from reaching free agency.
It's a tool that is often used by the team as a precursor to working out a long-term extension for the player. In some cases, the tag is simply to ensure that player will remain with the club for at least another year. The tag can be costly for the team, depending on the player they are looking to apply it to.
Franchise tags are determined by position and the value is calculated by a formula that includes an average of the highest-paid players at that spot, meaning those values typically rise from year-to-year.
There are three types of tags for teams to pick from:
- Non-exclusive franchise tag: This is the most common type of tag. Players are allowed to negotiate with other teams and sign an offer sheet. If that happens, the current team can either match that offer or let the player go in exchange for two first-round draft picks. Teams can also negotiate terms of a trade, if they prefer to do that.
- Exclusive franchise tag: A player receiving this version of the tag cannot negotiate elsewhere.
- Transition tag: Much like the non-exclusive tag, players can negotiated with other clubs in this situation. However, if the current team declines to match the offer sheet, they will be afforded no draft compensation for letting that player walk.
Franchise tag candidates
QB Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
Jones is coming off a career-year, but he also suffered a torn Achilles that cut that season short. The Colts won't want to lose the quarterback after a breakout season, but the cost of a franchise tag is likely more than he would command on the open market.
Using the tag as a placeholder could be the move, if it gets to that point.
RB Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
Is free agency in the future for the Super Bowl 60 MVP? It's possible, according to ESPN, who reported that it's unlikely Seattle will place that tag on the running back.
That means that the Seahawks will have to work out a deal for Walker before he hits the open market, otherwise they risk losing a key piece of the team that just delivered the franchise's second Super Bowl.
RB Breece Hall, New York Jets
The Jets didn't find an offer that met their asking price for Hall ahead of the trade deadline, meaning the running back is slated to hit free agency. It's unclear what the team plans to do this offseason, given the perceived lack of quarterback options in the 2026 NFL Draft. They could look for a bridge option or use a mid-round pick in the hopes of hitting the jackpot, but that quarterback will have to be surrounded with some weapons on offense.
Will Hall be one of them? The Jets haven't indicated what they plan to do, making Hall arguably the most interesting franchise tag candidate. He has been outspoken about the team's prolonged run of mediocrity, meaning the Jets run the risk of creating a difficult situation for everyone involved. Tag-and-trade could be on the table here.
WR George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are planning to use the franchise tag on Pickens, according to ESPN. It means that the receiver could be in line for a hefty salary of about $28.8 million, per OverTheCap, which would put him just inside the top-10 highest paid receivers in terms of average annual value (AAV).
Fellow Cowboys' receiver, CeeDee Lamb, is already on the books for about $34 million a year. It would mark a hefty commitment to just one position. Only the Cincinnati Bengals have done something similar, paying about $69 million a year to Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
WR Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The 32-year-old appears to be very much in "Buc for life" territory at this stage of his career, but plans change. After an injury-riddled 2025 season, the 32-year-old receiver could be in line for the tag if a deal doesn't get done.
TE Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
One of the hardest players in the league to forecast, Pitts regained his footing and turned in his best season since his rookie year. The tight end tallied 928 yards and career-highs for receptions (88) and touchdowns (5) in 2025. That is something that will almost certainly interest Kevin Stefanski, who is coming in as the new head coach.
Keeping the trio of Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Pitts around could help Atlanta compete in the NFC South next season. With the tag expected to be around $16 million for a tight end, the cost to keep Pitts is far from breaking the bank.
What is a transition tag?
The transition tag operates like the franchise tag, but it essentially makes the player a restricted free agent.
If a team chooses to use the transition tag, the player will still head to free agency. At that point, the player is free to sign an offer sheet with any team. However, the transition tag means that the player's original team has a chance to match that offer sheet, similar to how it works in leagues like the NBA.
Should a team decide to decline to match the offer sheet, they will receive no draft compensation for letting the player walk.
From a cost perspective, the transition tag is cheaper than the franchise tag.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL franchise tag tracker: Candidates, what to know for 2026