“NFL-Franchise Tag Day”

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Today is deadline day in the NFL for marquee free agent players and their teams.

Teams can retain top players by giving them a ‘franchise tag’ that guarantees them the average of the top 5-players at their position for the 2022 season.  Teams can retain the player on the one year deal, if the player signs, or can continue to negotiate a multi year contract to give the club salary cap relief.

The Chargers star WR-Mike Williams, coming off a career best 176-catch season, over a thousand yards and 9-TDs, is in that category.  He can be tagged at a cost of nearly 19M, be allowed to go on the open market, or can sign a multi year deal with a cap friendly average salary.

The Chargers have till 1pm on Tuesday to decide.  But take into consideration that lead receiver Keenan Allen has a 20M cap figure on his multi year deal.  Can the Chargers afford to pay nearly 40M of their 208M cap to two players?

Here’s a look at the franchise tag values for each position in the NFL, as clubs face this deadline:
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With the NFL setting the 2022 salary cap at $208.2MM, teams now know the precise amounts for franchise and transition tags. Some teams have begun doling out tags; the deadline looms at 3pm Tuesday.
Here are the franchise tag figures for each position:

Quarterback: $29.703MM
Running back: $9.57MM
Wide receiver: $18.419MM
Tight end: $10.931MM
Offensive linemen: $16.662MM
Defensive end: $17.859MM
Defensive tackle: $17.396MM
Linebacker: $18.702MM
Cornerback: $17.287MM
Safety: $12.911MM
Kicker/punter: $5.229MM
These numbers represent increases from 2021, when the salary cap declined for just the second time in history. Quarterbacks, wideouts, tight ends, linebackers and defensive tackles’ numbers increased by at least $3MM this year.

This does not set the franchise tag amounts for every player. If a team tags a player for the second straight year, he is entitled to 120% of last year’s tag figure. Players who have previously signed a veteran contract may also have a different tag price. The amount of the one-year offer can be 120% of the player’s previous salary, if that amount is greater than the league-assigned value. The Cardinals are unlikely to use their tag on outside linebacker Chandler Jones; his $20.2MM 2021 cap number would push that tag price to nearly $25MM.

Teams also have the option of deploying the lesser-used transition tag. Here are where those figures will reside in 2022:

Quarterback: $27.186MM
Running back: $8.034MM
Wide receiver: $16.782MM
Tight end: $9.392MM
Offensive linemen: $15.348MM
Defensive end: $16.012MM
Defensive tackle: $14.716MM
Linebacker: $15.783MM
Cornerback: $15.167MM
Safety: $10.817MM
Kicker/punter: $4.701MM
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