The 2025 NFL offseason is here, and while many teams would like to sign most of their free agents, many have to resort to using the franchise tag.
Before NFL free agency begins, there will be a period when teams that are unable to come to a long-term deal with a free agent can apply the franchise tag to retain their player. While some players will ultimately ink deals with multiple years, others will simply be retained on lucrative, one-year contracts. For clubs that may not want to commit to a longer contract — but also don’t want to see their star hit the open market — the franchise tag comes into play.
The franchise tag allows teams to extend the contract of any one player for one year at a pre-determined, league-wide value. This season, the tag window runs from Feb. 18 through March 4.
The franchise tag isn’t as widely used as it once was, but there are still a few teams that will utilize it to keep a high-end player on board. Players such as wide receiver Tee Higgins, quarterback Sam Darnold and tight end Trey McBride have all been rumored as possible franchise tag candidates.
Who might get franchised? Here’s a breakdown of the top candidates to be slapped with the tag and the latest news, rumors and updates about players who have been tagged in 2025.
MORE:
NFL franchise tag tracker
Below is a look at the players who are likely to be tendered a franchise tag for the 2025 NFL season.
Tee Higgins, Bengals
- Tag amount: $26.2 million
On Tuesday, March 3, the Bengals officially announced that they were placing their franchise tag on their star receiver. ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the news:
Bengals placed the $26.2 million franchise tag on WR Tee Higgins. This marks the second straight year that the Bengals have used their franchise tag on Higgins. pic.twitter.com/CBENnQe6FM
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 3, 2025
Higgins himself even tweeted about the news:
tag.
— Tee Higgins⁵ (@teehiggins5) March 3, 2025
The news isn’t too surprising. On Monday, Feb. 17, James Rapien of Sports Illustrated reported the Cincinnati Bengals plan to use the non-exclusive franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins for the second straight year.
Higgins was projected to be the top free agent wide receiver (and potentially the top free agent period) if he were to make it to free agency, but Cincinnati does not want that to happen.
Last year when the Bengals tagged Higgins, there had not been much dialogue about a long-term contract. He was the only player who was franchised last year who didn’t eventually sign a multi-year extension. This year, however, the Bengals are set on signing the star receiver to a long-term deal.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport adds that they hope to sign Higgins to more of a longterm deal after the tag:
The #Bengals have, in fact, franchise tagged WR Tee Higgins a second time, per @teehiggins5.
No surprise, as Cincy is not in the business of letting good players walk away. They’ll hope to do a long-term deal after the more than $26M tag. pic.twitter.com/XW56WgiW6a
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 3, 2025
Trey Smith, Chiefs
- Tag estimate: $23,403,000
The Chiefs are planning to franchise tag OG Trey Smith, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Feb. 27.
Smith was considered to be one of the top pending free agents after emerging as a sixth-round steal on the Chiefs’ offensive line and helping Kansas City win two Super Bowls. He’s missed just one game in four NFL seasons and earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2024.
While a long-term deal is still up in the air, tagging Smith locks him in at a hefty $23.4 million for the 2025 season and keeps one of the stalwarts of the Chiefs’ offensive line in place for another Super Bowl chase.
NFL franchise tag values 2025
Below is a full list of the estimated non-exclusive franchise tag values for the 2025 offseason. For more on the NFL’s franchise tag rules and procedures, you can click here.
2025 Franchise and Transition Tenders
Franchise tag
|
Transition tag
| Position | Transition tag value |
|---|---|
| Quarterback | $35.377 million |
| Running back | $11.067 million |
| Wide receiver | $21.441 million |
| Tight end | $11.712 million |
| Offensive line | $21.271 million |
| Defensive end | $19.872 million |
| Defensive tackle | $20.849 million |
| Linebacker | $20.862 million |
| Cornerback | $17.595 million |
| Safety | $15.027 million |
| Kicker/punter | $5.730 million |
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