Commencing Tuesday and concluding on March 3 at 4 p.m. ET, the NFL’s two-week window for applying the franchise designation becomes available. Within this period, every squad is permitted to apply the tag to a single athlete slated to become an unrestricted free agent. While this action would secure the player’s presence with the squad for the 2026 season, the associated cost is substantial.
The valuations for the franchise tag are derived from the five highest annual remunerations for each position, and this cost escalates every time an athlete receives the designation. Teams are tasked with assessing if it serves their primary advantage to cover the franchise tag’s expense, prolong the player’s contract, or perhaps tag him while continuing to deliberate on a protracted agreement. During the previous year, merely two athletes were tagged: Tee Higgins, the wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, and Trey Smith, the guard for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Presented here is an examination of each NFL team possessing an athlete who could potentially be handed the franchise tag this coming offseason:
Navigate to a squad:
ATL | CIN | DAL | IND | JAX
LAC | NYG | NYJ | SF | SEA
TE Kyle Pitts Sr.
Having endured three mediocre seasons, Pitts, the fourth overall selection in 2021, was largely perceived as a disappointment. Nevertheless, in 2025, while in good health, he cemented his status as one of the premier tight ends in the professional league. He now approaches prospective free agency after achieving his most successful season since his exceptional 2021 rookie year.
During his fifth year, he secured the second position among tight ends for both receptions (88) and receiving yardage (928), alongside setting a personal best with five touchdown grabs.
With wide receiver Drake London sidelined by a knee ailment late in the season, Pitts emerged as the Falcons’ most formidable aerial threat. In a December contest against the Buccaneers, Pitts amassed 11 catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns, marking him as the inaugural tight end since Shannon Sharpe in 1996 to achieve at least 150 yards and three touchdowns in a single game.
The Falcons could consider applying the tag to him and observing his performance in 2026 to ascertain if they wish to offer him a substantial agreement to keep him on the roster. — Marc Raimondi
DE Trey Hendrickson
Several factors suggest this alternative is not practical.
Initially, Hendrickson’s earnings would amount to $30.2 million under the franchise designation, derived from his compensation last season. The moment the tag is assigned to Hendrickson, he possesses the ability to accept it promptly, thereby securing that sum as entirely guaranteed. Given Hendrickson’s upcoming 32nd birthday next season and his recovery from a truncated 2025 due to injury, this sum might exceed what he could obtain as guaranteed funds in the open market.
Hendrickson, who became a part of the squad in 2021, is destined to be remembered as the premier free agent acquisition in Bengals’ annals, and potentially the finest throughout the entire league this decade. He earned an All-Pro recognition in 2024 subsequent to leading the league in quarterback takedowns and has been a Pro Bowler on four occasions.
Cincinnati might choose to allocate that salary cap room to revamp numerous components of its defensive unit rather than concentrating investment on a single athlete. — Ben Baby
WR George Pickens
When the Cowboys secured Pickens from the Steelers during the previous offseason, the aspiration was to cultivate an enduring association with the wide receiver. This objective persists, especially after he achieved personal bests in receptions (92), yardage (1,429), and touchdowns (nine), effectively assuming the primary receiver role while CeeDee Lamb contended with an ankle injury and a concussion.
Quarterback Dak Prescott, alongside coach Brian Schottenheimer and owner/general manager Jerry Jones, has also expressed their desire for Pickens’ return. Pickens, for his part, has articulated his preference to stay in Dallas. However, to attain a protracted agreement, the franchise designation serves as the initial mechanism. At a minimum, it ensures Pickens’ tenure as a Cowboy through 2026, even though it introduces the prospect of his non-participation in the offseason regimen, minicamp, and/or training camp.
The last athlete to receive the initial tag from the Cowboys before consenting to a prolonged agreement within the same timeframe was Dez Bryant in 2015. — Todd Archer
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Why Pickens should advocate for a long-term agreement instead of the franchise designation
Jason McCourty and Jeff Saturday concur that George Pickens ought to pursue signing a protracted agreement rather than settling for a franchise designation from the Cowboys.
QB Daniel Jones, WR Alec Pierce
It is probable that the franchise designation’s remunerations surpass what either athlete would gain yearly through a protracted agreement; however, the Colts could plausibly employ this designation as a protective measure against losing one of them to free agency.
Since 2013, the Colts have applied the tag on a single occasion, to WR Michael Pittman Jr. in 2024. He secured a long-term agreement merely two weeks thereafter, a situation that might reoccur in 2026.
In this instance, both athletes have conveyed their aspiration to rejoin the squad. Regarding Jones, the team has implied that his rejoining is an inevitable outcome, notwithstanding his rehabilitation from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Pierce’s circumstances are less stable, given that the Colts have already allocated considerable financial resources to Pittman and have not traditionally expended vast sums on wide receivers. Pierce, who surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the initial time in 2025 and ranks among the league’s most perilous deep threats, is anticipated to command a highly competitive market if he proceeds to free agency. — Stephen Holder
LB Devin Lloyd, RB Travis Etienne Jr.
Lloyd is concluding his most exceptional year yet (five interceptions, a recovered fumble, 10 quarterback pressures, 1.5 sacks) and earned recognition as a second-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler. Nevertheless, it is improbable that the Jaguars will apply the tag to Lloyd. The projected value for a linebacker’s tag is estimated at $28.2 million, according to OverTheCap.com. This sum is considerable for a linebacker not primarily focused on pass-rushing, especially one who experienced inconsistent performance during his initial three seasons. It’s worth recalling that the team chose not to exercise his fifth-year option last spring due to these factors.
A comparable scenario exists for Etienne concerning his anticipated tag valuation ($14.5 million). Etienne did accumulate 1,399 scrimmage yards and achieved a personal best13 scores, yet his rushing performance waned near the season’s conclusion. During the last six matchups, he averaged 3.2 yards per carry, marking a substantial decline from the 4.8 yards per carry he achieved across the initial 11 contests.
The 2025 cohort of unattached running backs is robust — featuring Rachaad White, formerly under coach Liam Coen in Tampa Bay — suggesting the Jaguars might secure one for under $14 million each year. Alternatively, the Jaguars might consider Bhayshul Tuten, a selection from the 2025 fourth round, as their primary ball-carrier. — Michael DiRocco
Outside Linebacker Odafe Oweh
Upon Oweh’s acquisition by the Chargers in October, he appeared to be an underperforming edge defender, having registered no sacks in five games, resembling an athlete who had not fulfilled the promise that led to his first-round selection by Baltimore in 2021.
This situation swiftly transformed in Los Angeles. Oweh concluded his tenure with the Chargers having accumulated 7.5 sacks across 12 games, and he ended the season by establishing a team playoff record, achieving three sacks and two forced fumbles during the Chargers’ postseason defeat against the Patriots.
Now 27, Oweh seems to be among the league’s more impressive edge defenders, yet the anticipated tag valuation of $27.8 million might prove excessively high for General Manager Joe Hortiz, should both parties fail to finalize an agreement at a reduced sum. — Kris Rhim
Right Tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, Cornerback Cor’Dale Flott, Wide Receiver Wan’Dale Robinson
The Giants possess three notable unrestricted free agents: right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, cornerback Cor’Dale Flott, and wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson. Each of them occupies a highly valued role. The designated franchise figures for these positions simply render it impractical to regard them as viable options.
Note that both wide receiver and offensive tackle are predicted to exceed $25 million, with cornerback not far behind, surpassing $20 million. Such amounts are prohibitive for Eluemunor, Robinson, and Flott.
Eluemunor served as a dependable right tackle, participating in the sixth-highest number of snaps (1,018) for his position in 2025; Robinson stood as the squad’s premier receiver, accumulating over 1,000 yards despite primarily operating from the slot; and Flott performed as the Giants’ top cover corner, ranking eighth across the NFL with a targeted EPA of -12.7.
It is anticipated that New York will be keen on retaining all three. However, not within the financial scope of a franchise tag. — Jordan Raanan
Running Back Breece Hall
Hall had been a potential trade target by the mid-season cutoff, illustrating the rapid shifts within the NFL. He is embarking on his 25-year-old season, having just completed a personal best of 1,065 rushing yards. Should he become available on the free agent market, he is expected to draw considerable attention. He could potentially be considered the top unattached running back.
A franchise designation would be costly (estimated at $14.5 million), yet he and Wide Receiver Garrett Wilson represent the sole established offensive playmakers. Hall is contemplating a multi-year agreement ranging from $11 million to $13 million annually, implying he could secure a spot among the top five in his role. A transition designation, valued at $11.7 million, is also a potential course of action. — Rich Cimini
Kicker Eddy Piñeiro
The 49ers would rather avoid applying the tag to a kicker — particularly given a valuation between $6 million and $7 million — however, Piñeiro provided an immediate remedy for a major issue they faced in 2025.
Subsequent to releasing kicker Jake Moody and enlisting Piñeiro as an unrestricted free agent in Week 2, he successfully converted 28 out of 29 field goals, with his only miss being a 64-yard attempt that struck the crossbar. Additional points presented more of a challenge, as Piñeiro converted 34 of 38 tries.
Nevertheless, the Niners aim to retain Piñeiro instead of undertaking another kicker recruitment; therefore, if a long-term contract cannot be established, the tag remains a potential option. — Nick Wagoner
Running Back Kenneth Walker III
Should the Seahawks secure the Super Bowl LX MVP once more, it will likely involve a multi-year contract. They have employed the franchise designation two times over 16 seasons under General Manager John Schneider — once for a kicker (Olindo Mare) and on another occasion for a linebacker (Frank Clark), whom they subsequently traded.
Schneider typically avoids using it, and past practices — coupled with the anticipated $14.5 million cost for running backs — indicate he will not this year. However, we will at least consider this eventuality.
Zach Charbonnet’s ACL rupture during the playoffs implies that half of Seattle’s ground game will probably not return until the latter part of the upcoming season. Walker’s impressive conclusion to 2025 provides the Seahawks additional motivation to secure him again, though this undeniably increased the cost of doing so. — Brady Henderson