Your 2018 Guide to the NFL Franchise Tag

ESPN has published a helpful guide for understanding the franchise tag as the NFL offseason begins to take shape. Starting Tuesday and ending March 6, NFL teams can designate players with the tag, which gives the team the right to match any offer sheet a player signs with another team or potentially be compensated if the player leaves. Should the player stay with the team, the player either signs a one-year deal on an especially high salary, or commits to a contract extension. Le’Veon Bell played under the tag in 2017, and could potentially do so again next year. Other players who could be franchised include the Rams’ Sammy Watkins, the Lions’ Ezekiel Ansah, and the Seahawks’ Sheldon Richardson.