How much is the NFL's franchise tag at every position in 2024?

NFL teams unable or unwilling to come to a long-term contract extension with an upcoming free agent on their roster have one ace in the hole to play; the franchise tag.

The controversial option allows every team to lock in one player to a one season contract that assures a gaudy payday but no financial guarantees beyond the tag. The price is the average of the top five salaries at the free agent’s position, meaning it’s always changing — and almost always rising.

Some players have seen their franchise tag costs grow more than others. A franchise tagged quarterback made $25.1 million in 2021 but would make a little over $36.3 million this year — an increase of nearly 45 percent. The running back tag moved from a shade below $8.7 million to an estimated $11.3 million, which is only an increase of 30 percent at a devalued position.

There are other options as well. a non-exclusive franchise tag comes at a slightly lower cost since it’s the average of the top five salary cap hits at a position. It also allows players to negotiate with other teams but offers the one who applied the tag the right to match any contract.

If the original tag decides to let the player go, the signing team has to send back two first round picks as compensation. The Baltimore Ravens did this to Lamar Jackson before his 2023 MVP campaign and got zero takers before signing him to a long-term deal.

Teams can also use the transition tag to retain a player’s services. That would pay a pending free agent the average of the top 10 salaries at his position but would allow him the right to negotiate with other teams. The tagging team would have the right to match any contract offered, but would not receive any compensation should it opt not to re-sign.

Here’s what the estimated exclusive franchise tag looks like for 2024 given a projected $242.5 million salary cap. Numbers here are provided by the excellent Spotrac and are not final.