Explain Player Franchising to me

If a player is franchised, he receives a salary, for one year, that is equal to the average of the top 5 (maybe 3) of the players at his position. They can only franchise one player a year and it is used to keep a player that is going to become an unrestricted free agent.

Thanks. So the year after he is franchised what does that player become? An unrestricted FA, right?

quote:

---

Yes...and he can be franchised again.

---

Just to add...

The franchise tag is equal to the average of the 5 highest salaries at the position OR a 120% of the previous year's salary...whichever is higher. So a second tag would drive the price up considerably.

According to wikipedia there are two types of tags:

An "exclusive" franchise player must be offered a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position as of a date in April of the current year in which the tag will apply, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. Exclusive franchise players cannot negotiate with other teams.

A "non-exclusive" franchise player must be offered a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position in the previous year, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. A non-exclusive franchise player may negotiate with other NFL teams, but if he signs an offer sheet from another team, the original team has a right to match the terms of that offer, or if it does not match the offer and thus loses the player, is entitled to receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.

quote:

---

Dave Worth

---

quote:

---

so for a player like desean jackson, is getting franchised a good thing or a bad thing?

---

Depends on how you look at it. Yes, he would be getting paid substantially more than his current salary for one year.

But he doesn't have a long term contract. Most players would prefer the long contract with guarantees.

For Franchise Players, that wage is the average of the top 5 players at the player's position. If the team designates the franchise tag as "Exclusive Rights", then the player may not sign with any other team. If the team does NOT designate with Exclusive Rights, then the player is free to negotiate with other teams. However, if the player signs with another team, then that team must fork over two first round draft picks to the prior team (or some lesser level of competition as mutually agreed upon by the two teams). As you can guess, not too many teams are eager to part with such lofty compensation.

If the player signs the one-year tender for the Franchise Tag, then that salary is guaranteed.

The team may rescind the designation. However, they may not re-use the tag on another player.