The NFL's franchise tag window opens today, February 17, 2026, and closes on March 3 at 4 p.m. It's a busy time for teams as they strategize their approach to player contracts. The window may seem quiet at first, but the real action begins as teams use the tag as a negotiation tactic. Once a tag is applied, teams have until July 15 to secure a multi-year extension. If no agreement is reached, the player is under a one-year tender. Teams can negotiate different terms or incentives post-deadline, but it must be within the one-year timeframe. There are three types of franchise tags: the non-exclusive, exclusive, and transition tags, each with unique rules and implications. The non-exclusive tag is the most common, offering a one-year tender based on the average of the top five salaries at the player's position over the last five years or 120% of their previous salary. The exclusive tag, on the other hand, grants the tagging team sole negotiation rights, raising the pay scale. The transition tag guarantees the original club the right of first refusal, but without compensation if they choose not to match an offer. Each team can use only one tender per year, and it can be rescinded before the player signs. A player can be tagged up to three times, with each tag increasing their pay. Tagged players can only be traded after signing the tender, and they are not susceptible to fines for missing voluntary offseason workouts. The tag figures for 2026 are yet to be released, as they depend on the NFL's annual salary cap, which hasn't been officially announced. With the tag used sparingly last year, expect more strategic use in 2026, targeting players like George Pickens, Daniel Jones, and Breece Hall.
