How the NFL’s Franchise Tag Window Works

The NFL franchise tag window is underway, lasting the next two weeks as we inch closer to the start of the offseason. So... How does it work?

BY SACTOWN SPORTS

Feb 17, 2026, 9:27 AM Updated: 10:46 am

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The NFL franchise tag window is officially open, and for teams and players alike, it’s one of the most tense periods of the year. But what does it actually mean to be franchise tagged?

Simply put, an NFL franchise tag allows a team to retain one of its impending free agents for another year.

The player receives a salary based on the top earners at their position, giving them a big paycheck while giving the team time to negotiate a long-term deal or plan their roster.

More about the Seahawks being unlikely to tag Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III:https://t.co/jfATbqJafZ

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 17, 2026

How does the NFL Franchise Tag Window work?

There are two main types of the NFL franchise tag: exclusive and non-exclusive.

An exclusive tag keeps the player from negotiating with other teams, while a non-exclusive tag lets them talk to other teams, but their current team can match any offer or receive draft pick compensation if they leave.

It’s a delicate balance—players get top-level money for a year, but they give up the security of a longer-term contract.

The NFL franchise tag window is short—teams have just a few weeks each offseason to make their decisions.

This year, the window opens on Tuesday, February 17th, and closes at 1 pm PT on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, so teams need to act fast if they want to tag a player.

Once the window closes, teams lose the ability to use the tag until the next offseason, making timing critical.

For the San Francisco 49ers, this offseason could be interesting. The 49ers have the option to use the NFL franchise tag on one player before the new league year starts. Teams usually tag players who are key contributors or who play positions that are hard to replace.

The 49ers have historically used the NFL franchise tag sparingly, but this year, a few stars could be candidates. Tagging a player is a strategic move: it locks in top talent for another season, but it could create salary cap challenges or tension if the player was expecting a long-term deal.

For fans, the NFL franchise tag period is a mix of excitement and uncertainty—will the 49ers keep their key players under the tag, or will someone slip away in free agency?

Either way, the NFL franchise tag remains one of the most fascinating and high-stakes tools in the NFL’s contract landscape.