The NFL franchise tag is now officially in for the upcoming season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The deadline for teams to apply the designation to pending free agents has passed, locking in several key players to their current rosters as the league year approaches.
Per @RapSheet, the finalized application of these tags ensures that the designated players will not hit the open market when the new league year begins. The franchise tag serves as a tool for teams to retain high-value assets for a one-year term, with the salary determined by the average of the top five highest-paid players at their specific position.
Following this official window, teams and tagged players have until the mid-summer deadline to negotiate long-term contract extensions. If no multi-year agreement is reached by that time, the players will be required to play the season under the one-year franchise tender. This move marks a critical juncture in the NFL offseason as front offices transition their focus toward the start of free agency and the upcoming draft.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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