The NFL's franchise tag window is closing its doors today, and it's decision time for teams. It's a crucial moment where they must decide to tag their players or let them walk away.
The window officially shuts at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, leaving teams with a tight deadline to make their moves. If you're new to this, the franchise tag is a powerful tool, and we've got a great primer on it right here.
So far, only two teams have utilized the tag. The Atlanta Falcons tagged tight end Kyle Pitts for a substantial $15.045 million, while the Dallas Cowboys tagged receiver George Pickens for an even bigger $27.298 million. Both tags were the non-exclusive variety, which means these players could still be poached by other teams.
Teams often wait until the last minute to use their tags, and for good reason. It gives them more time to negotiate long-term deals and assess all their options. Deadlines create urgency, and today is a big one for the NFL.
There's a lot of speculation about who might be tagged today. The Jets have indicated they might tag Breece Hall, while the Cincinnati Bengals haven't ruled out tagging Trey Hendrickson, possibly to facilitate a trade.
But the most intriguing situation is in Indianapolis. General Manager Chris Ballard has said he'd prefer not to use the tag, but he has two key players on his radar: quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce. Could we see a repeat of 2023, where Jones signed a long-term contract on the final day of the tag window, allowing the Giants to tag Saquon Barkley? Will history repeat itself, or will Indy tag Pierce instead? Or perhaps they'll sign both and keep their options open?
For those not tagged today, the path to free agency is wide open. But teams can still extend contracts to their own players, so the drama isn't over yet.
With the trade market already buzzing, we're in for an exciting sprint towards the new league year on March 11th, when free agency officially begins. Get ready for some fast-paced action!
