The window for all 32 NFL teams to franchise tag players opened last week. However, in that period just one single player has been tagged in the form of Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons.
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Franchise owners across the league along with their scouting department are working round the clock to put together squads good-enough to challenge for major NFL honors in 2021.
But NFL Network correspondent and league insider Ian Rapoport has an interesting update regarding franchise tag deals that are yet to be confirmed.
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Ian Rapoport gives the inside scoop on NFL franchise tag deadline
A storyline to follow going forward: If the official salary cap number doesn’t come today and soon, NFL will have to move back the deadline to franchise tag players from Tuesday. It’s a situation several GMs are bracing for and would further stall business for a bit.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2021
Each NFL team is allowed to use one franchise tag on a player who they want to keep on their roster but is out of a contract. A non-exclusive franchise tag requires an interested team to give up two 1st-round picks in order to draft a tagged player. An exclusive franchise tag is ideally reserved for quarterbacks.
For example, Dallas Cowboys tied down star quarterback Dak Prescott to a $31.4 million franchise tag last season. He can either sign a long-term franchise deal this summer or look for offers elsewhere if the don’t Cowboys agree on an exclusive trade deal.
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 20, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws in the pocket in the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
March 9th, 2020, was the deadline for teams to franchise tag players. However, the NFL is yet to release the official salary cap amount for the upcoming season.
NFLPA members and Roger Goodell’s team of senior personnel are involved in these salary cap negotiations. There is some progress in these talks as the base cap was increased from $175 to $185 million for 2021.
This means that teams could ask league officials to push the deadline towards the end of March in order to complete negotiations with their respective franchise tag targets.
Apart from Dak Prescott, Green Bay Packers are also reportedly in discussion with RB Aaron Jones for a potential franchise tag deal.
The likes of WR Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), WR Kenny Golladay (Detroit Lions), and WR Allen Robinson (Chicago Bears) are also reportedly in line for franchise tag deals.
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