National Football League

2024 NFL franchise tag tracker: Michael Pittman, Jaylon Johnson tagged

Updated Mar. 5, 2024 11:26 p.m. ET

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The NFL offseason is underway, and teams have until 4 p.m. ET on March 5 to place the franchise tag on impending free agents.

There are two main types of franchise tags: non-exclusive and exclusive. The non-exclusive tag means that a player can still negotiate with other teams, while the exclusive tag prevents a player from negotiating with a different team. There are also transition tags, which allow a player to continue negotiating with teams, but his current team has the right to match any offer.

Each team can tag only one player, which results in a fully guaranteed deal for one season if the player opts to play on the tag. A franchise tag salary is based on the average salary of the five highest-paid players at a respective position (e.g. quarterback, running back, wide receiver, etc.), while the transition tag is the average of the 10 highest-paid players at the position. Regardless of the type of tag, players and teams can still agree to a long-term deal before training camp even if the tag is used.

Here's the latest on who's been franchise-tagged and who could be franchise-tagged.

Players who have been tagged

Colts WR Michael Pittman

The Colts will place the franchise tag on their top wide receiver, ESPN reported Tuesday. Pittman's franchise tag number is $21.8 million, fully guaranteed. 

Pittman had a career year in 2023, recording 109 receptions for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns in his fourth season in the league. 

Jaguars LB Josh Allen

The Jaguars are expected to place the franchise tag on the standout pass rusher, NFL Media reported Tuesday. Allen's franchise tag number is $24 million, fully guaranteed.

Jacksonville is reportedly hopeful that it can get Allen to agree to a long-term extension. Allen has played a pivotal role in the Jaguars' resurgence over the last couple of seasons, recording career-highs in sacks (17.5) and QB hits (33) last season. 

Bears CB Jaylon Johnson

The Bears are giving their top corner the franchise tag, ESPN reported Tuesday. Johnson's franchise tag number is $19.8 million, fully guaranteed. 

Johnson was expected to receive the franchise tag ahead of free agency as the Bears are still hoping to give him a long-term deal. General manager Ryan Poles recently said he hoped they didn't have to give Johnson the franchise tag, but he felt there was a good chance the two sides would come to an agreement on an extension.

"We feel like we've done a really good job coming to the table strong and showing the respect that he's due just in terms of his production through his career and really an emphasis on the turnovers he created this past year," Poles told reporters at the combine. "Our expectation is that's going to continue to go as he's with the Bears.

"When I say come strong, that means cash flows are strong, guarantees are strong, the term is strong for him; being with his age, there's a really good opportunity to go back to the market again and continue to earn money and play well and hopefully that's with the Bears for a long period of time, so I'm excited about that."

Johnson recorded four interceptions in 2023, earning second-team All-Pro honors.

Patriots S Kyle Dugger

The Patriots are giving the safety the lesser-used transition tag, ESPN reported Tuesday. Dugger's transition tag number is $13.8 million, fully guaranteed.

Dugger was one of the candidates viewed as a possible franchise tag option. Instead, Dugger will enter free agency on the transition tag, which allows teams to sign him without giving up draft pick compensation. As the Patriots save a few million from using the franchise tag on Dugger, they'll get the right to match any contract he signs with another team. 

Dugger had a career-high 109 combined tackles last season, adding two interceptions. 

Buccaneers S Antoine Winfield Jr.

The Buccaneers are placing the franchise tag on Winfield, ESPN reported Tuesday. Winfield's franchise tag number is $19.8 million, fully guaranteed.

However, the Buccaneers are reportedly working to try and get an extension done for the highly-touted safety. The 2023 first-team All-Pro has played a pivotal role in the Buccaneers' secondary since the team drafted him in 2020, recording career highs in total tackles (122), sacks (six) and interceptions last season. The Buccaneers have already moved to extend Mike Evans, reportedly agreeing to terms with the receiver as they've worked to keep two of their top three free agents (including Baker Mayfield) this offseason under team control.

Ravens DT Justin Madubuike

The Ravens are placing the franchise tag on Madubuike, NFL Media reported Tuesday. Madubuike's franchise tag number is $22.1 million, fully guaranteed.

Baltimore is reportedly still working to extend Madubuike after his impressive 2023 campaign. The fourth-year defensive tackle had 56 total tackles, 13 sacks and two forced fumbles, serving as a key player for a Ravens defense that was among the best in football last season. 

Panthers LB Brian Burns

The Panthers have officially placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on star pash-rusher Burns, according to NFL.com. Burns' tag will be $24 million for the one season. 

Burns has started 16 games in each of the last three seasons, racking up 97 solo tackles, 46 tackles for loss, 58 QB hits and 29.5 sacks.

He is a two-time Pro Bowl selection. 

Bengals WR Tee Higgins

Higgins has officially received the franchise tag, the team announced on Feb. 26. With the move, Higgins remains under the Bengals' control, but it isn't a guarantee that he'll be with the team in 2024. 

It has been speculated that the Bengals could trade him if they fail to reach a long-term extension, similar to what the Green Bay Packers did with Davante Adams in 2022. The Bengals could also ride the year out with Higgins if they aren't able to agree to an extension, but he'd have to sign his franchise tag tender, which is $21.816 million guaranteed. Both sides have until July to reach a multi-year extension. Higgins will be scheduled to become a free agent again in 2025.

Higgins had 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games in 2023.

Chiefs CB L'Jarius Sneed

As expected, the defending Super Bowl champions have officially opted to place the franchise tag on starting linebacker Sneed instead of star defensive end Chris Jones amid reports of optimism from both the Chiefs and Jones that the two sides can reach a longer-term deal after failing to before last season. The Chiefs have reportedly granted Sneed permission to talk to other teams about a contract extension that could facilitate a trade, but it's also a possibility he returns to Kansas City and plays on the franchise tag next season. Sneed ranked fifth on the Chiefs with 17 total tackles in 2023.

Players who won't be tagged

Giants RB Saquon Barkley

There won't be franchise-tag drama surrounding the star running back for a second straight offseason. The Giants won't place the tag on Barkley, ESPN reported. New York notably put him on the franchise tag last offseason, causing Barkley to threaten to sit out the season before agreeing to a one-year deal ahead of training camp. 

The Giants are still exploring a deal with Barkley. Giants general manager Joe Schoen told reporters last week that Barkley is "a guy we'd like to have back."

Barkley, who turned 27 earlier in February, rushed for 962 yards on 3.9 yards per carry and six touchdowns in 2023. He added 41 receptions for 280 yards and four touchdowns.

Players who aren't expected to be tagged

Cowboys RB Tony Pollard

The Cowboys are set to risk losing their starting running back in free agency. Pollard isn't expected to receive the franchise tag for a second straight season, ESPN reported on Feb. 26. Dallas placed the franchise tag on Pollard in 2023, and unlike the other two running backs who were franchise-tagged, he signed the tender not long after. 

Pollard, who turns 27 in April, rushed for 1,005 yards on four yards per carry and six touchdowns in his first season as Dallas' lead running back. He also had 55 receptions for 311 yards.

Titans RB Derrick Henry

The Titans are letting one of their most iconic players in franchise history hit the open market. Derrick Henry isn't expected to receive the franchise tag, ESPN reported on Feb. 26. Henry is set to become a free agent for the first time in his career after spending his first eight seasons in Nashville, rushing for 9,502 career yards and emerging as one of the game's top running backs over the last decade.

Henry, 30, rushed for 1,167 yards on 4.2 yards per carry and 12 touchdowns last season.

Raiders RB Josh Jacobs

The Raiders won't be going down the franchise-tag road with Jacobs for a second straight offseason. The standout running back isn't expected to receive the franchise tag, ESPN reported on Feb. 26. Jacobs was in a standoff with the Raiders last offseason after receiving the franchise tag, sitting out training camp before eventually agreeing to a reworked one-year deal ahead of the regular season. The Raiders' brass has changed since then, moving on from head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler to Antonio Pierce and Tom Telesco, respectively.

Jacobs, who turned 26 earlier in February, saw his stats take a drop in 2023 after leading the league in rushing in 2022, rushing for 805 yards on 3.5 yards per carry and six touchdowns.

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler 

The Chargers are letting their longtime running back hit free agency as they aren't expected to franchise tag him, ESPN reported on Feb. 26. Ekeler had a contract standoff with the team last offseason as he looked for an extension. He was granted permission to seek a trade, but he eventually remained in Los Angeles on a reworked contract.

Ekeler, who was once one of the game's top dual-threat running backs, rushed for 658 yards and had 436 receiving yards last season. 

Players who could be tagged

• Cardinals S Budda Baker
• Giants S Xavier McKinney

Stick with FOX Sports for the latest on players being tagged.

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in this topic

National Football League

Cincinnati Bengals

Tee Higgins

New York Giants

Saquon Barkley

Dallas Cowboys

Tony Pollard

Derrick Henry

Tennessee Titans

Josh Jacobs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Austin Ekeler

Kansas City Chiefs

L'Jarius Sneed

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Antoine Winfield Jr.

Baltimore Ravens

Justin Madubuike

New England Patriots

Kyle Dugger

Josh Allen

Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaylon Johnson

Chicago Bears

Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts