The heart of 2019 NFL free agency starts March 11, when teams can begin meeting and negotiating with representatives of free agents. But it really begins, in earnest, when the window opens for teams to use franchise or transitional tags on players in 2019.
Top 2019 NFL free agents like Demarcus Lawrence and Jadeveon Clowney could be candidates for their teams' respective franchise tags. Lawrence, however, was franchise-tagged by the Cowboys last year, which impacts his odds of being tagged again in 2019.
Last year, Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell sat out the season after he was tagged for a second straight year. While the 27-year-old is unlikely to be franchise tagged for a third consecutive season, the transition tag is a viable option for Pittsburgh.
NFL FREE AGENCY 2019:
Top 25 players; best by position
Tagging players can be a rather confusing method to understand. Here's everything you need know about how the process works.
How does franchise tag work in NFL?
The franchise tag allows teams to lock up a top free agent for one season. Some free agents want to cash in with massive, long-term contracts filled, including guaranteed money.
If teams aren't ready to commit to that type of deal, the tag gives them more time to work out a long-term extension, or evaluate a given player's value for another season.
NFL franchise and transition tag rules are outlined in full in Article 10 of the league's collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
How many times can a team franchise tag a player in the NFL?
Players can be tagged in consecutive years, but it's costly.
For a player to be franchise tagged two straight years, the team must pay 120 percent of the player's previous salary. If it's three straight years, the team must pay the player 144 percent of his previous salary.
Each team gets one franchise tag per offseason. Teams do not have to use it, but once it is gone, it is gone. There are no rollover tags.
MORE: Franchise tag candidates for 2019
Can a player decline a franchise tag?
As Bell displayed last year, a player can simply refuse to sign the franchise or transition tag tender. However, that player is not able to play in the NFL unless the tender is signed.
Per the CBA, should a player not sign the tender his team offered, he has until the Tuesday following the 10th week of the regular season to do so, or he will not be able to play that season, "absent a showing to the impartial arbitrator of extreme club or personal hardship."
In the case of Bell, even though he did not get an accrued season in 2018, if he were to be tagged again by the Steelers in 2019, it would count as his third franchise tag; it would not revert to his second. Per the CBA, Pittsburgh in that case would be required to tender Bell non-exclusively (with first- and third-round comp picks attached) at the average of the top five highest-paid players at the league's highest-paid position.
When can NFL franchise tag be used?
Teams are able to begin using the franchise tag on players Feb. 19. The deadline to do so is March 5.
Teams have until July 15 to reach a long-term contract with a tagged player. If no agreement can be reached by then, the player will play on a one-year contract.
MORE: Steelers' options with Le'Veon Bell | Steelers' options with Antonio Brown
Types of NFL franchise tags
There are three types of tags: non-exclusive, exclusive and transition tags.
Non-exclusive tags are most commonly used. It means a team will pay the tagged player no less than the average of the five highest salaries at the player’s position, or 120 percent of the player’s cap number from the previous season, whichever is greater. The player is allowed to negotiate with other teams, but his current team can match any offer sheet. If a player's current team declines to match another team's offer, it will be awarded two first-round draft picks as compensation.
Exclusive tags are more rare. Only Broncos linebacker Von Miller (2016) and Saints quarterback Drew Brees (2012) have received the exclusive tag since 2012. The salary is calculated the same for players issued non-exclusive tags. The only difference is that the tagged player cannot negotiate with other teams.
Transition tags pay a player the average of the 10 highest-paid players at his position. A tagged player is allowed to negotiate with other teams. The player’s current team can match any offer given to a transition-tagged player, but the team will not be given compensation if it decides not to match.
NFL franchise tag values for 2019
| Position | Franchise tag | Transition tag |
| QB | $25,578,000 | $23,356,000 |
| DE | $18,653,000 | $15,735,000 |
| WR | $17,101,000 | $14,738,000 |
| CB | $15,992,000 | $13,891,000 |
| LB | $15,777,000 | $13,627,000 |
| DT | $15,571,000 | $12,287,000 |
| OL | $15,283,000 | $13,717,000 |
| S | $12,037,000 | $10,268,000 |
| RB | $11,980,000 | $9,739,000 |
| TE | $10,930,000 | $9,124,000 |
| ST | $5,162,000 | $4,712,000 |
2019 franchise tag and transition tag amounts are projections via Sporting News contributor and OverTheCap.com founder Jason Fitzgerald. Official tag amounts will be figured upon the NFL's announcement of its 2019 salary cap, expected in early March.
NFL franchise tagged players
Below are the NFL players who have received franchise and transition tags over the last five years.
* - transition tag
** - exclusive franchise tag
*** - tag rescinded
2018
| Player | Position | Team |
| Jarvis Landry | WR | Dolphins |
| Lamarcus Joyner | DB | Rams |
| Ziggy Ansah | DE | Lions |
| Demarcus Lawrence | DE | Cowboys |
| Kyle Fuller* | CB | Bears |
2017
| Player | Position | Team |
| Kirk Cousins** | QB | Redskins |
| Le'Veon Bell** | RB | Steelers |
| Trumaine Johnson | CB | Rams |
| Kawann Short | DT | Panthers |
| Chandler Jones | DE | Cardinals |
2016
| Player | Position | Team |
| Kirk Cousins | QB | Redskins |
| Muhammad Wilkerson | DE | Jets |
| Justin Tucker | K | Ravens |
| Josh Norman*** | CB | Panthers |
| Eric Berry | S | Chiefs |
| Von Miller** | OLB | Broncos |
| Alshon Jeffrey | WR | Bears |
| Trumaine Johnson | CB | Rams |
| Cordy Glenn | OT | Bills |
2015
| Player | Position | Team |
| Demaryius Thomas | WR | Broncos |
| Justin Houston | OLB | Chiefs |
| Dez Bryant | WR | Cowboys |
| Jason Pierre-Paul | DE | Giants |
| Stephen Gostkowski | K | Patriots |
| Charles Clay* | TE | Dolphins |
2014
| Player | Position | Team |
| Brian Orakpo | OLB | Redskins |
| Jimmy Graham | TE | Saints |
| Jason Worilds* | DE | Steelers |
| Alex Mack* | C | Browns |
| Nick Folk | K | Jets |
Contributing: Tadd Haislop