NFL teams had until 4 p.m. ET on March 8 to designate the franchise tag to one of their players.
Giving the tag puts that player under a one-year fully guaranteed deal worth the average of the top five cap hits for the position last season.
The tag could also be 120 percent of the player’s salary from the previous season if it is higher than the average.
Likewise, the tag value escalates if a player gets it for the second or third straight year.
When the deadline passed, eight players were given the franchise tag, per NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero.
Eight players got the franchise tag:#Packers WR Davante Adams#Bucs WR Chris Godwin#Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki#Browns TE David Njoku #Cowboys TE Dalton Schultz#Chiefs OT Orlando Brown Jr.#Jaguars OT Cam Robinson#Bengals S Jessie Bates
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 8, 2022
Pelissero revealed that the players who got the tag are wide receivers Davante Adams and Chris Godwin.
Offensive tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and Cam Robinson are also part of the list.
Safety Jessie Bates III is also a tag recipient.
Completing the list are tight ends Mike Gesicki, Dalton Schultz, and David Njoku.
While the tag keeps them on their respective teams for at least one season, the deal also buys the franchise time to negotiate a long-term extension with these players.
Teams will have until July to finalize a new contract with these athletes.
Otherwise, they would have to play in 2022 under the tag.
Making Sense Of The Franchise Tag Choices
Three of the eight players are tight ends because it’s the most cap-friendly tag value at $11 million.
Gesicki, Schultz, and Njoku made significant contributions to their respective teams and they would like to have these players for the long term.
Meanwhile, retaining Brown and Robinson will somewhat solidify the pocket protection for Patrick Mahomes and Trevor Lawrence, respectively.
On the other hand, Bates has been a significant contributor during the Cincinnati Bengals’ playoff run last season.
Finally, Godwin and Adams are their teams’ top options at wide receiver.
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