NFL Free Agency 2025: Which Players Received The Franchise Tag?

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 Higgins⁵ (@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