We've essentially done non-exclusive tags always where everybody was still on the market to get offers. And if no offers, then we allowed teams to extend the contract of that player at those pre-determined franchise prices.
We could possibly also have the Exclusive franchise tag option where the player wouldn't hit the market but immediately be signed to a higher 1-year deal at exclusive franchise tag prices, and maybe have those same options of extending the player's contract at those high prices. We may also look at increasing those extension options, and possibly especially if you don't allow the player to hit the market to field offers.
There are two types of franchise tag designations: the exclusive rights franchise tag, and non-exclusive rights franchise tag:
- An "exclusive" franchise player must be offered a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position as of a date in April of the current year in which the tag will apply, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. Exclusive franchise players cannot negotiate with other teams.
- A "non-exclusive" franchise player must be offered a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position in the previous year, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. A non-exclusive franchise player may negotiate with other NFL teams, but if he signs an offer sheet from another team, the original team has a right to match the terms of that offer, or if it does not match the offer and thus loses the player, is entitled to receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.