Franchise and
transition player designations were announced today for the 2022 NFL free
agency signing period, which begins at 4:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 16.
A club can designate one “franchise”
player or one “transition” player among its veteran free agents.
The salary offer by a player’s club
determines whether the franchise player designation is exclusive
or non-exclusive.
An “exclusive” franchise player
– not free to sign with another club – is offered the greater of (i) the
average of the top five salaries at the player's position for the current
year as of the end of the restricted free
agent signing period on April 23; or (ii) the amount of the required tender for a “non-exclusive” franchise
player, as explained below.
Article 10,
Section 2(a)(i) of the CBA sets forth the methodology, known as the “Cap Percentage
Average,” for calculating the required tender for such a player:
The Nonexclusive Franchise Tender shall
be a one year NFL Player Contract for (A) the average of
the five largest Prior Year Salaries for players at the position . . . at which
the Franchise Player participated in the most plays during the prior League
Year, which average shall be calculated by: (1) summing the amounts of the
Franchise Tags for players at that position for the five preceding League
Years; (2) dividing the resulting amount by the sum of the Salary Caps for the
five preceding League Years . . . ; and (3) multiplying the resulting
percentage by the Salary Cap for the upcoming League Year . . . (the “Cap
Percentage Average”) . . . ; or (B) 120% of his Prior Year Salary, whichever is
greater . . . .
If a club extends a required tender to
a non-exclusive franchise player pursuant to this section, the player
shall be permitted to negotiate a player contract with any club, except that
draft choice compensation of two first-round
draft selections shall be made in the event he signs with a new club.
The signing period for franchise
players begins at 4:00 p.m. (ET) on March 16
and ends on the Tuesday following the 10th week of the season.
This year, no
player was designated as an exclusive franchise player. Eight players were
designated as non-exclusive franchise players.
2022 FRANCHISE PLAYERS
Club | Player | Position |
Cincinnati Bengals | Jessie
Bates | S |
Cleveland Browns | David
Njoku | TE |
Dallas Cowboys | Dalton
Schultz | TE |
Green Bay Packers | Davante
Adams | WR |
Jacksonville Jaguars | Cam Robinson | OL |
Kansas City Chiefs | Orlando Brown | OL |
Miami Dolphins | Mike Gesicki | TE |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Chris Godwin | WR |
A transition player is offered
the greater of (i) the average of the top 10 prior year salaries at the
player’s position, which average is calculated using the same methodology used
for non-exclusive franchise players (the Cap Percentage Average); or (ii) 120%
of his prior year salary.
If a club
extends a required tender to a transition player, the player shall be permitted
to negotiate a contract with any club subject to his prior club’s right of
first refusal, except that no draft choice compensation shall be made with respect
to such player if his prior club declines to exercise its right of first
refusal.
The signing
period for transition players begins at 4:00 p.m. (ET) on March 16 and ends on
July 22. After July 22 and until
4:00p.m. (ET) on the Tuesday following the 10th week of the season, the prior
club has exclusive negotiating rights.
This year, no
player was designated as a transition player.