The franchise tag window is here, and there are several big names to keep an eye on this offseason.<\/p>\n
While there are plenty of players who could pick up the tag over the next week, it\u2019s unclear how many actually will get the franchise tag. Last offseason, only two players \u2014 Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins and Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith \u2014 were tagged. The Dallas Cowboys used the tag on George Pickens on Friday<\/a>, and after Atlanta used it on Kyle Pitts<\/a>, we\u2019re already at last year\u2019s total.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Here\u2019s everything you need to know, and who to watch out for, during the franchise tag window.<\/p>\n What dates is the franchise tag window open?<\/p>\n The franchise tag window opened Feb. 17 and runs until 4 p.m. ET on March 3.<\/p>\n What are the franchise tag rules?<\/p>\n During this two-week window, teams are allowed to tag one player who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. That would then keep that player with the team for the 2026 season. The sides can still negotiate a long-term deal up until July 15. If that deadline passes without a new deal, a tagged player will play on a one-year contract under the tag\u2019s price determined by position.<\/p>\n Franchise tag salaries by position for 2026<\/p>\n The projected franchise tag costs for each position in 2026, per Spotrac<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Offense Defense Special Teams Which players have been franchise-tagged?Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons<\/p>\n The Falcons placed the franchise tag on Kyle Pitts<\/a> officially on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Pitts looked significantly better last season, much more like the dominant tight end he was during his rookie campaign. He had 928 yards and a career-high five touchdowns on 88 catches, and was a very reliable piece for the Falcons\u2019 offense that lost both quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and wide receiver Drake London due to injuries.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n But Pitts has been underwhelming for much of his career. Outside of his first and most recent season, Pitts has largely failed to live up to the expectations that came with being the No. 4 overall draft pick.<\/p>\n It\u2019s unclear how the Falcons\u2019 new leadership feels about Pitts, but tagging him for one final season appears to be their safe strategy. The Falcons can now revisit his long-term future with the organization this fall, depending on how his fifth campaign with them goes.<\/p>\n George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys<\/p>\n This is an easy one, and the Cowboys made the move Friday<\/a> after planning to do it for quite some time.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Pickens is coming off the best season of his career in 2025, his first with the Cowboys after being traded there from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pickens had 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns on 93 catches last season alongside star CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys will have the second-most expensive wide receiver duo in the league next season when the deal is done. The Cowboys have made it clear they want Pickens on a long-term contract, too<\/a>.<\/p>\n While negotiations on that deal could take some time, the Cowboys aren\u2019t going to risk losing Pickens to free agency this offseason.<\/p>\n Top franchise tag candidates for 2026Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets<\/p>\n Jets general manager Darren Mougey told reporters Tuesday at the NFL Combine that the team will tag running back Breece Hall if they can\u2019t agree upon a long-term deal<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Mougey said \u201cthe tags\u201d are an option, meaning the transition tag could be another, cheaper, way the Jets keep Hall, although it isn’t used as often.<\/p>\n The transition tag’s value is the average of the top 10 salaries at the position. As is the case with players on the non-exclusive franchise tag, those on a transition tag can negotiate offer sheets with other teams, and the original team has the right to match an offer. The difference is that if the original team declines to match, it doesn’t receive draft-pick compensation in return for that player leaving.<\/p>\n Hall racked up a career-high 1,065 rushing yards with five total touchdowns last season, his fourth in the league. The former Iowa State star was easily the most consistent part of New York\u2019s offense amid a 3-14 campaign.<\/p>\n Odafe Oweh, LB, Los Angeles Chargers<\/p>\n Oweh looked like a different player once he landed with the Chargers ahead of the trade deadline. Oweh had 7.5 sacks and 28 total tackles in just 12 games, and he had three total sacks and a pair of forced fumbles in L.A.\u2019s playoff loss in New England. He seemed to be a very good fit for a Chargers defense that struggled frequently last fall.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The Chargers have a lot of money to spend this offseason, too, so securing Oweh could be a very easy move if the two sides can\u2019t agree to a long-term deal. But letting Oweh walk after his revival of sorts feels like something the Chargers need to avoid.<\/p>\n Daniel Jones, QB, Indianapolis Colts<\/p>\n This may not even be necessary, but it\u2019s something to look out for. Both the Colts and Jones have made it clear that they want to reunite next season after Jones\u2019 career-best start with the franchise last fall. He\u2019s currently recovering from a torn Achilles he went down with in December, but said he expects to be ready for training camp.<\/p>\n If the Colts use the tag on Jones \u2014 they\u2019ve used it only once in the past decade \u2014 expect it to be a short-term option before a real extension is reached.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks<\/p>\n The Seattle Seahawks rarely use the franchise tag, and it doesn\u2019t seem like that\u2019s going to change, even if they don\u2019t want to let Walker go this offseason.\u00a0But last week, ESPN reported the Seahawks won\u2019t use their franchise tag<\/a> on Walker.<\/p>\n
QB: $47.242 million
RB: $14.186 million
WR: $28.037 million
TE: $16.007 million
OL: $27.764 million<\/p>\n
DE: $26.710 million
DT: $27.424 million
LB: $27.559 million
CB: $20.783 million
S: $20.758 million<\/p>\n
K\/P: $6.846 million<\/p>\n