The deadline for teams to apply the franchise tag has passed. With NFL free agency rapidly approaching, which players received the franchise tag?
Which Players Received The Franchise Tag?
It's 4 pm ET and the franchise tag window has closed. There were no additional tags. Final tally:
— #Bengals WR Tee Higgins tagged again at $26.2M.
— #Chiefs G Trey Smith tagged at $23.4M.— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 4, 2025
Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET franchise tag deadline has passed.
Only two players received the franchise tag: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins and Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith.
Higgins and Smith received the non-exclusive franchise tag, which is the most common tag.
Under the non-exclusive franchise tag, players can negotiate a deal with other teams. The current team can match any offer. If the team decides not to match, they will receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.
The non-exclusive franchise tag salary is the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position over the last five years. It can also be 120% of the player’s previous salary, depending on which is greater.
This is the second consecutive season Higgins has been tagged. Higgins’ tag value for 2025 is $26.18 million, up from 2024’s $21.816 million.
Despite missing five games, Higgins recorded 73 catches for 911 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns.
The Chiefs placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Smith. The 2024 Pro Bowler will make $23.4 million on the franchise tag.
The deadline to sign Higgins and Smith to new contracts is July 15. If the deadline passes without a contract extension, they will receive their respective franchise tag numbers, which are fully guaranteed.
tag.
— Tee Higginsâ” (@teehiggins5) March 3, 2025
Notable Players Not Tagged
The #Vikings will officially not be tagging Sam Darnold. But the two parties will continue to work towards a deal that is best for both sides. https://t.co/gh9ozKyUW1
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 4, 2025
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold did not receive the franchise tag, making him a free agent when the league year begins on March 12.
Darnold will continue negotiating with the Vikings to try and find a deal to return to Minnesota.
Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa was in contention to receive the franchise tag.
However, Odighizuwa agreed to a four-year, $80 million deal before Tuesday’s deadline.
Cowboys and DL Osa Odighizuwa have agreed to terms on a 4-year, $80M deal with $58M guaranteed. (via @RapSheet, @MikeGarafolo) pic.twitter.com/lLPkzsAD86
— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2025
