NEWSLETTER
Tuesday marks the first day teams can start giving Franchise and Transition Tags. And when it comes to the Chicago Bears, there is much to monitor here.
Let’s just dive right into it.
What is the Franchise Tag?
Teams deploy a Franchise Tag as a tactic to keep players from reaching free agency. It is most often used when the two sides can’t reach an agreement on a long-term deal. Sometimes, it is given out when a team is unsure if it wants to keep the player for the long haul. There are two types of tags. The Exclusive Franchise Tagged player can’t negotiate a contract with any other teams. However, players getting a Non-exclusive tag can negotiate deals with other teams. If a player signs an offer sheet while on the non-exclusive tag, the player’s current team can match it. If they don’t, they’re eligible to get two first-round draft picks for their trouble.
Ha! And you thought “Franchise player” was just another NFL buzzword.
It isn’t cheap to hand out the Franchise Tag. The one-year contract is the greater of these two numbers — it is no less than either the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary.
And it surely isn’t something you give out willy-nilly. Only one Franchise (or Transition) Tag is given out per team per season. As ESPN points out, six players were given tags last year. The most notable tag-getter was Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who turned his tag situation into a five-year, $260 million contract and turned in an MVP season in Year 1 of that deal.
The Chicago Bears have not handed out a Franchise Tag tender since 2021 when the team gave it to wide receiver Allen Robinson. At the time, Robinson was coming off a 102-catch, 1,250-yard, 6-touchdown campaign. A year later, the Bears declined to double up on the tag after Robinson posted a 38-catch, 410-yard, 1-score season and watched him leave in free agency.
What is the Transition Tag?
A Transition Tag is similar to the Franchise Tag, but with some exceptions. The two most notable are (1) they use the average of the top-10 highest-paid players at the position, (2) don’t require compensation if a player signs an offer sheet and the original team doesn’t match.
The Bears haven’t given out a Transition Tag since 2018 when it was given to cornerback Kyle Fuller. If you’ll recall, the Green Bay Packers signed Fuller to an offer sheet that March. But it wasn’t long until the Bears matched the offer sheet to keep Fuller in the fold.
There is a part of me that wonders if history could repeat itself with Johnson and the Bears. Rather than trying to draw up a contract, perhaps letting the Pro Bowl cornerback shop around, find a deal, bring it back to Chicago, and have this front office match it. Sometimes, life is easier when you let someone else do the heavy lifting — as the Packers did with Fuller in 2018.
Jaylon Johnson, the Chicago Bears, and the likelihood of a Franchise Tag
Ideally, the Bears and Jaylon Johnson will agree on an extension and let things continue on their current course. As for what that could look like, we took a shot at piecing together a possible deal back in November based on recent contracts given out to similar corners.
Johnson has long been clear in expressing his desire to remain in Chicago. And General Manager Ryan Poles indicated that Johnson wasn’t going anywhere. It sure seems like there are mutual feelings and both sides would like to keep this thing going. But if push comes to shove, the Franchise Tag is an option the Bears can wield. And for what it’s worth, it doesn’t sound like Johnson has any issue playing on the tag. So, at a minimum, this doesn’t look like it will be a contentious situation. Whew.
CHECK IT OUT: Jaylon Johnson Lays Out What He Wants From the Bears
From where I stand, the Franchise (or Transition) Tag should be used only as an opportunity to give deadline talks an ample extension. And if that is what it comes to, I hope that good-faith negotiations come from that decision. Jaylon Johnson is a homegrown talent coming off his best season and is still in the prime of his career. Johnson won’t turn 25 until April 19. The combination of his productivity, age, and future projection makes him the ideal type of player you’d accept the risks that come with handing out a big-money contract. So … what’s the hold-up?
The window to designate Franchise or Transition players is March 5.
