The NFL is about to play tag.
Wednesday marks the opening of a two-week window in which NFL teams can choose to use the franchise tag or lesser-known transition tag on impending free agents. Teams may only use one tag in any given year.
The window runs for two weeks, closing at 4 p.m. ET on March 1.
Related: 15 players who could get the franchise tag by March 1
As in previous years, two slightly different versions of the franchise tag are available to teams. The most common is the non-exclusive tag, which is a one-year tender for the average of the top five salaries at the player's position over the last five years - or 120 percent of the player's previous salary, if that total is greater.
Figures have yet to be finalized for 2017. CBS Sports' Joel Corry projected what they could look like:
- Quarterback: $21.395 million
- Running back: $12.377 million
- Wide receiver: $15.826 million
- Tight end: $9.894 million
- Offensive line: $14.444 million
- Defensive end: $16.955 million
- Defensive tackle: $13.468 million
- Linebacker: $14.754 million
- Cornerback: $14.297 million
- Safety: $10.961 million
- Punter/kicker: $4.863 million
The non-exclusive tag allows the player to negotiate as a free agent, but his current team has the right to match any deal or receive two first-round picks as compensation if it declines to match. It is rare for a tagged player to negotiate with other teams.
The exclusive franchise tag is a one-year tender worth the average of the top five salaries at the player's position in the previous year (or 120 percent of the player's previous salary) and does not allow the player to negotiate with other teams.
The transition tag is also a one-year tender. It is worth the average of the top 10 salaries at the position. It allows the player to negotiate with other teams and provides the tagging team the right to match any offer, but provides no compensation if it does not match.
