With 15 teams currently over the NFL’s salary cap, expect another year in which the franchise tag is scarcely applied. No team wants to use the franchise tag because of the costly cap hit for one player, but it’s an option for buying more time to agree on a long-term contract extension that would limit the cap hit in 2023.
Last year, eight players were tagged during the franchise-tag window and only four played under it. Some teams, however, won’t have the option to use the tag because of a messy salary cap. Others will have multiple key free agents and will need to decide which one is worthy of the franchise tag.
For 15 teams, whether because of their specific rosters or financial restrictions, there don’t seem to be any great options for the franchise tag. Those teams are the Panthers, Browns, Lions, Packers, Texans, Colts, Chargers, Rams, Dolphins, Vikings, Patriots, Saints, Jets, Steelers and Titans. For the rest of the league, here is a look at who could get tagged when the franchise window opens Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. Teams have until March 7 to decide whether to apply the franchise tag.
All franchise tag salaries and cap space numbers are according to OverTheCap.com.
Mitch Stringer/USA TODAY Sports
Arizona Cardinals
Zach Allen, interior defensive line: Allen, the Cardinals’ versatile defensive lineman, chose the right time to deliver a breakout season. He consistently pushed the pocket and closed running lanes, and the Cardinals likely can’t afford to lose Allen after the retirement of J.J. Watt. It might be a gamble to tag Allen after one Pro Bowl–worthy season, but it’s not a bad option to at least have as a placeholder. Also, the pay scale for interior defensive linemen is expected to surge this free agency.
Atlanta Falcons
Kaleb McGary, offensive tackle: McGary had his best season after the Falcons declined the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. The Falcons likely want that extra year back, but at least they saw firsthand McGary is capable of being a cornerstone piece. Quality tackles don’t grow on trees, and McGary will benefit from that this offseason.
Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson, quarterback: Without a doubt, the Ravens will tag their franchise quarterback. A better question is whether the Ravens meet Jackson’s contract demands or begin to seriously explore trades for the former MVP quarterback. But Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer recently wrote that Jackson is “going nowhere” and asked an even better question: Which tag will Baltimore use on Jackson?
Buffalo Bills
Tremaine Edmunds, inside linebacker: Edmunds is regarded as one of the best off-ball linebackers in the NFL, but being listed as a linebacker and playing for a team with cap-space issues might lead to his playing for a new team this upcoming season. Inside and outside linebackers are grouped on the franchise tag pay scale. So, if the Bills want to tag Edmunds, it would cost them about $21 million. The Bills likely can’t afford that without some shrewd cap-saving moves, because they’re currently $16.37 million over the cap.
Expect the Bills to take their chances with re-signing Edmunds before or during free agency. But how much effort will they apply to retain Edmunds? Off-ball linebackers are no longer viewed as priority positions.
Jordan Poyer, safety: Tagging Poyer would be a cheaper option with franchise-tagged safeties listed at $14.46 million for 2023. Poyer is a difference-maker for the Bills’ defense, but using the tag on a soon-to-be 32-year-old might not be a wise move.
Chicago Bears
David Montgomery, running back: Bears GM Ryan Poles recently raved about Montgomery’s rugged running style and said he reflects the organization’s identity. That high praise sure seems to indicate the Bears will at least make an effort to retain Montgomery.
Cincinnati Bengals
Jessie Bates, safety: Bates isn’t returning to the Bengals, according to USA Today NFL insider Tyler Dragon. This makes sense for various reasons. Using the franchise tag for a second consecutive year with hopes of trading Bates likely isn’t an option, because it’s tough seeing a team relinquishing draft picks for a safety. He is listed here only so readers don’t ask, “Where’s Bates?”
Dallas Cowboys
Tony Pollard, running back: The Cowboys might be hesitant to tag Pollard for at least three reasons—he’s recovering from a broken leg; paying running backs isn’t a good investment; and the Jones family knows RBs aren’t good investments because of the poor results the team received from re-signing Ezekiel Elliott, who will likely be asked to take a pay cut this offseason. But Pollard flourished as the Cowboys’ lead back in ’22 and that will likely make him an offseason priority in Dallas. Will the money come from the franchise tag ($10 million for running backs) or a long-term extension to provide cap-space flexibility?
Dalton Schultz, tight end: Dallas probably won’t tag Schultz for a second time because the cap hit would be around $13 million, and the team is currently $7 million over the cap. Expect the Cowboys to use the tag on Pollard and attempt to re-sign Schultz to a long-term contract to spread the cap hit to the following seasons.
Denver Broncos
Dre’Mont Jones, defensive lineman: Jones is a standout pass rusher from the interior and edge positions, and emerged as one of the Broncos’ top defensive players in 2022. He is worthy of a franchise tag, but there might be some hesitancy because of his struggles against the run.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jawaan Taylor, offensive tackle: Jaguars GM Trent Baalke told reporters during his end-of-season news conference he is hoping not to use the franchise tag. That doesn’t come as a surprise, because Jacksonville is currently $22.75 million over the cap. But as the Jaguars found out with left tackle Cam Robinson, it might be tricky to retain a top offensive tackle. The Jaguars likely want to keep Taylor to give quarterback Trevor Lawrence quality bookends on the offensive line, and they will at least have the option of using the franchise tag as a placeholder.
Evan Engram, tight end: Taylor might be a bigger priority than Engram, but the tight end impressed many people during his first season in Jacksonville. “Obviously, we’d love to have Evan back,” Baalke told reporters last month.
Kansas City Chiefs
Orlando Brown Jr., offensive tackle: Brown will likely get his lucrative long-term contract extension from the Chiefs this offseason, but he might have to wait a little longer. Expect the Chiefs to use the tag on Brown again to ensure he doesn’t hit the open market after he locked up back-to-back Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl title since arriving in Kansas City from Baltimore. Remember when some doubted whether Brown could play left tackle after playing right tackle for the Ravens?
Las Vegas Raiders
Josh Jacobs, running back: Jacobs told the Las Vegas Review-Journal he doesn’t want to be tagged, and if the Raiders decide to go that route, it would be a “hero turned villain” situation, according to Jacobs. Playing as a villain with $10 million for the 2023 season might not be a bad option if Jacobs is forced to wait on a long-term contract.
New York Giants
Daniel Jones, quarterback: If the Giants have no interest in the veteran quarterbacks available this offseason, tagging Jones will be an easy decision. It would give New York another year to evaluate Jones after he showed promise in Year 1 with Giants coach Brian Daboll. It might be too soon to commit to Jones for the long haul, but he showed improvements despite a lack of weapons. It would have been much cheaper for the Giants to evaluate Jones for a fifth season if they exercised the option year on his rookie contract, but the past is the past.
Saquon Barkley, running back: The franchise tag might not be an option with Barkley, because the Giants’ starting quarterback is also a pending free agent. Barkley proved many doubters wrong this past season, but he and the team might have differences when it comes to compensation.
Philadelphia Eagles
Javon Hargrave, interior defensive line: Hargrave established himself as one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL and outplayed the three-year, $39 million contract he signed with the Eagles in 2020. The Eagles value depth on the defensive line, which was instrumental during their two Super Bowl appearances in the past five years. But retaining Hargrave won’t be easy with Chris Jones, Dexter Lawrence, Daron Payne and a few other star interior defensive linemen expected to cash in, likely increasing the pay bar at the position.
James Bradberry, cornerback: If the Eagles come to terms with Hargrave before the deadline to tag players, they might use it on one of their starting defensive backs. Bradberry is entering his age-30 season, but he showed he still has plenty to offer during his first season in Philadelphia.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson, safety: Tagging Gardner-Johnson would be a cheaper option because he plays safety, and he would be worth it because he contributes as a slot cornerback.
San Francisco 49ers
Mike McGlinchey, offensive tackle: If the 49ers tag McGlinchey, it might be a sign that they’re optimistic about reaching a long-term contract agreement in the near future. McGlinchey struggled at times as a pass blocker, but he fits well against the run in coach Kyle Shanahan’s rushing scheme. The franchise tag price of $18.24 million for offensive linemen in 2023 might be too costly for a player who has shown mixed results over the years, but it buys more time to hammer out an extension.
Seattle Seahawks
Geno Smith, quarterback: Smith never wrote back to the doubters and is now in line for a payday after showing the NFL he is capable of being a quality starting quarterback. Perhaps he’s not your typical franchise QB, but tagging Smith would give the Seahawks another year to build the rest of the roster before deciding whether to commit to him long term.
