Packers can now use the 2023 franchise tag, but they probably won’t
The window for NFL teams to use the franchise tag this offseason is now open. Just don’t expect the Green Bay Packers to do so.
Teams can use the franchise tag once per offseason. It is a way of keeping a star player before their contract expires, adding a year to their contract with fully-guaranteed money.
The Packers used the franchise tag a year ago so they didn’t lose Davante Adams in free agency.
That bought the Packers time to work on a new deal with Adams. As it turned out, they traded him to the Las Vegas Raiders, where Adams signed a multi-year contract.
It’s almost certain that Green Bay won’t require the franchise tag again this offseason. And for good reason.
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, here’s what it would cost to use the franchise tag at each position:
- Quarterbacks: $32.42 million
- Running backs: $10.1 million
- Wide receivers: $19.74 million
- Tight ends: $11.35 million
- Offensive linemen: $18.24 million
- Defensive ends: $19.73 million
- Defensive tackles: $18.94 million
- Linebackers: $20.93 million
- Cornerbacks: $18.14 million
- Safeties: $14.47 million
- Punters/Kickers: $5.39 million
In other words, it would cost almost $20 million to use the franchise tag on Allen Lazard or Randall Cobb. Or $11.35 million to franchise-tag Robert Tonyan or Marcedes Lewis. Or almost $15 million to ensure Adrian Amos doesn’t leave in free agency.
It would even cost well over $5 million to franchise-tag Mason Crosby.
The Packers using the franchise tag is pretty rare. Even after franchise-tagging Davante Adams last offseason, they ended up trading him.
There are no realistic candidates for the Packers to franchise tag this offseason.
Mason Crosby would be the most affordable, but it’s hard to believe the two sides would struggle to agree a new multi-year deal. The franchise tag likely wouldn’t even be necessary.
While the Packers likely won’t use the franchise tag, other teams will, which will prevent some big names from becoming free agents next month.