Tag day in NFL … NFL teams can begin to designate free-agents-to-be as either franchise or transition players today with the start of the 2016 league year now just over three weeks away. Those designated with the franchise tag can get either an exclusive or non-exclusive tag. The exclusive category includes a one-year tender offer to a player for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position, or 120 percent of the player’s previous salary, whichever is greater. The player’s team has all negotiating rights to the player. For the non-inclusive category there is a one-year tender offer to a player for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position, or 120 percent of the player’s previous salary, whichever is greater. The player can negotiate with other teams. The player’s current team has the right to match any offer, or receive two first-round picks as compensation. Meanwhile the transition tag is a one-year tender offer to a player for an amount that is the average of the top 10 salaries at the position. It guarantees the original club the right of first refusal to match any offer the player may receive from another team. The transition tag can only be used if the franchise tag is not used by a team in that year. Transition tags can be rescinded, but teams that rescind a transition tag cannot use it again until next season. NFL teams can begin signing other teams free agents on March 15th. Players expected to be tagged if they do not reach a new deal with their team include Denver DE Von Miller, Carolina CB Josh Norman and the Jets’ DT Muhammad Wilkerson.
