The NFL's franchise tag window has officially opened today, February 17, 2026, marking a critical milestone in the league's offseason calendar. Teams across the league now have the opportunity to designate one pending free agent with a franchise or transition tag to prevent them from hitting the open market when the new league year begins.
According to Ian Rapoport and Judy Battista of NFL Media, this window provides a two-week period for front offices to make difficult roster decisions regarding their most valuable impending free agents. The use of the tag guarantees the player a one-year contract at a salary determined by the average of the top players at their position, or 120 percent of their previous year's salary, whichever is greater.
High-profile players often use this period as a catalyst to negotiate long-term extensions before the final deadline later this summer. If a player and team cannot reach an agreement, the player must play under the one-year tender or risk a holdout. Several stars across the league are expected to be candidates for the tag this year as teams look to secure their core rosters before the legal tampering period and free agency officially kick off in March.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Sources & Original Reporting