How the NFL franchise tag is calculated
Why tag values differ by position and how the NFL’s formula determines the dollar amounts.
Every NFL offseason, fans hear teams discussing whether to use the franchise tag on a star player. The designation gives a club a way to keep a key free agent from reaching the open market for at least one more season. But the dollar amount attached to the tag is not the same for every player. Instead, it varies by position and follows a formula negotiated in the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, USA TODAY reported.