The NFL is a never-ending grind.
As a season ends, a new calendar year begins.
While players get much-needed rest before training camp begins, the front offices are on hyperdrive in figuring out their roster for 2022.
The hard salary cap drives all financial considerations each franchise has.
They must strike a balance between spending their money wisely and leaving some flexibility for the near future.
That said, the franchise tag is one of the options that team presidents or general managers use to retain top talent.
It is a one-year guaranteed deal that is often used to buy the team time for contract extension negotiations.
Normally, NFL teams have until July to sign tagged players to an extension.
Otherwise, they would have to wait until the next offseason for contract talks to happen again.
Therefore, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport made a gentle reminder regarding the franchise tag window.
The NFL’s window to use franchise tags opens today & closes March 8. History shows few players get tagged until the deadline. Notable players who warrant consideration:#Packers WR Davante Adams, #Patriots CB JC Jackson, #Chiefs LT Orlando Brown & #AZCardinals LB Chandler Jones.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 22, 2022
Rapoport said, “The NFL’s window to use franchise tags opens today & closes March 8. History shows few players get tagged until the deadline. Notable players who warrant consideration: #Packers WR Davante Adams, #Patriots CB JC Jackson, #Chiefs LT Orlando Brown & #AZCardinals LB Chandler Jones.”
What Do Players Get From The Franchise Tag?
A player that gets the tag earns its full value relative to his position and the salary cap.
It’s not chump change but players under it often deserve more than its value.
The players mentioned above have massive impacts on their respective teams and their dynamic would falter without their skill.
Restricted franchise tag recipients will receive a salary equivalent to the average of the top five cap hits in the position for the previous season.
Based on current projections, the salary cap will be around $208.2 million for 2022.
Going by that rate, Adams will get $19.1 million if he gets the tag.
Brown will take home $16.7 million, Jones earns $17.4 million, and Jackson will be $17.3 million richer.
NEXT: Remembering Jerry Rice's Short Stint In Seattle
