The NFL landscape is always shifting, and the franchise tagging of running backs Saquon Barkley, and Josh Jacobs back in March is a testament to just that. Both players have until July 17 to secure new contracts, a deadline that has put them, their teams, and the entire league on alert.
Josh Jacobs, who led the NFL in rushing yards in 2022 with 1,653 yards to go with 12 touchdowns, also added 53 catches for 400 yards last year for the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite his impressive season, the Raiders declined his 2023 option and instead slapped the franchise tag on him, leaving Jacobs with a $10.09 million option for only the upcoming season. This decision has raised eyebrows across the league, given Jacobs’ undeniable talent and contribution to the Raiders offense.
Similarly, Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants is also a name to keep an eye on. Like Jacobs, Barkley was also tagged, putting him in a similar predicament. If no long-term deals are signed by the July 17 deadline, both players will be unable to discuss extensions with their respective teams until after the 2023 regular season concludes.
No Guarantee’s That Anything Changes
The situation is complex and fraught with uncertainty. While negotiations are expected to pick up as the deadline approaches, there’s no guarantee that agreements will be reached. If no deals are signed, both players may have to decide whether to accept the one-year franchise tender or sit out training camp and regular-season games in protest.
Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard, another franchised player, has already signed his franchise tender and seems content to play out the season at that number. However, Pollard’s situation differs from that of Jacobs and Barkley, as he is coming off a major season-ending injury and doesn’t have the same track record as a No. 1 back.
Looking Ahead
The coming weeks will be crucial for both Jacobs and Barkley. If no new deals are reached by the July 17 deadline, it’s unlikely we’ll see them at the start of camp. The threat of sitting out the season is a leverage point, but it’s a double-edged sword. If they choose to sit out, they’ll be back in the same position a year from now.
The future of these two talented running backs hangs in the balance. The decisions made in the coming days will not only impact their careers but could also set a precedent for how the NFL handles franchise-tagged players moving forward. As the deadline looms, all eyes will be on Jacobs, Barkley, and their respective teams. The clock is ticking, and the NFL world is watching.
NFL Franchise Tag
There are two types of franchise tags: the non-exclusive and the exclusive franchise tag. The non-exclusive franchise tag allows NFL players to negotiate with other teams after the tag has been applied. If negotiations lead to a contract offer, the team that applied the franchise tag has the first right of refusal to match the offer. If the team applying the tag declines to match the offer sheet, the team proposing the offer will send two first-round NFL draft picks in return for signing the player.
On the other hand, the exclusive franchise tag prevents players from negotiating with other teams. The cost of the non-exclusive tag is calculated by averaging the top five cap hits at the position for the previous five years, adjusted proportionally to the salary cap for the upcoming season. The cost of the exclusive franchise tag is calculated as the average of the top five cap numbers at the position when free agency is over.
It’s important to note that players cannot officially refuse the NFL franchise tag. They can try to force the hand of their team, but there is no way to reject the tag and head to free agency. Some players have held out of training camp and preseason, usually reporting to the team ahead of the season’s first game.
The maximum number of times a tag can be applied is three times. However, the cost escalates when a player is tagged multiple times. A second-straight franchise tag will automatically increase a player’s salary by 20%. A third tag would see the price rise even higher, with the player’s salary jumping 44% from the previous year.
