NFL Franchise Tag Window Opens, Teams Evaluate Candidates

The NFL franchise tag window opened on Tuesday, with fewer players expected to be tagged this offseason due to increased salary cap space and the rising one-year salary cap attached to the tag. Notable candidates for tagging include Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, who is expected to receive the tag for the second consecutive year, and Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., who has shown significant improvement. The Vikings are less likely to tag quarterback Sam Darnold, as they appear to be moving toward a future with J.J. McCarthy. The Los Angeles Chargers will not use the franchise tag this offseason, particularly due to a no-tag clause in Khalil Mack's restructured contract. Teams generally use the franchise tag as a temporary measure to negotiate long-term contracts or to gauge trade interest. As March 4 approaches, teams face important decisions regarding potential free agents and their franchise-tag strategies.