The two-week period for using the franchise tag starts this Tuesday. Interestingly, this year, there might not be any tags at all.
Two players were considered likely candidates for the tag, but it seems they might not be tagged. For instance, Tee Higgins from the Bengals received the franchise tag in 2024, earning $21.8 million. If tagged again in 2025, his salary would jump to $26.18 million, fully guaranteed. The Bengals rarely use the tag more than once on a player, and no tagged player has remained with the team past that season.
The last time a Bengals player signed a long-term deal instead of accepting the tag was back in 1999, when Carl Pickens signed a five-year contract. However, he was released just a year later.
It’s more likely that Higgins will secure a long-term contract rather than receive the franchise tag, especially with Ja’Marr Chase pushing for a deal that could reach $40 million per year.
There were discussions about the Vikings tagging quarterback Sam Darnold, but Coach Kevin O’Connell suggested that Darnold should become a free agent. This means the Vikings are unlikely to use the tag on him, which would cost roughly $40 million.
Outside of Higgins and Darnold, there doesn’t seem to be a strong candidate for the franchise tag. Some analysts believe it’s possible that no player will be tagged this offseason.
This situation wouldn’t be the first time the league has gone tag-less; however, it’s quite rare. The only other season without tags on a league-wide basis was in 1996.
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