The opening of the two-week window in which a team can designate one upcoming free agent a franchise player comes Feb. 15.
Once the franchise tag is applied, the player immediately will be tendered a one-year, fully guaranteed contract that's usually worth less than the amount of money he would receive with a long-term contract.
The application of the franchise tag also effectively blocks the player from free agency by attaching a cost of two first-round draft picks for any contract the player signs with another team.
So who will get tagged this year? Here are some likely candidates.
MORE: Top free agents | How the tag works
Terrelle Pryor, WR, Browns
Pryor’s value in free agency is probably not going to be as much as the value of the franchise tag, but given all the cap space the Browns have and the lack of talent on their team, they should not worry about the one-year price of a tag for Pryor. His track record is not strong enough to commit a big, long-term contract, so in that respect, the tag is the proper option here.
Melvin Ingram, LB, Chargers
Ingram falls into a tweener category, where the position and player's ability generally dictates the use of the franchise tag, but the output itself is probably borderline for use of the tag. If Ingram gets to free agency, he should command a big salary. The Chargers usually are not big spenders, so it seems unlikely the tag would lead to a long-term contract.
I’m not sure what benefit a bottom-tier team that might not be willing to pay for a long-term contract would gain from using the tag. The last time the Chargers used the tag was in 2011 on receiver Vincent Jackson, who signed the following year with the Buccaneers.
Alshon Jeffery, WR, Bears
Players of Jeffery’s talent level rarely hit free agency (if ever), and even with his injuries of 2015 and suspension of 2016 fresh on everyone’s mind, he would have a good chance at becoming the highest-paid receiver in the NFL.
The Bears would need to pay him $17.5 million to use the tag on him for a second year, which would bring his two-year salary with Chicago to $32.1 million. That number is already in line with Dez Bryant’s contract, which the Bears did not want to meet last season, so it’s hard to see what the tag really accomplishes for them unless they would like to trade him once they settle their quarterback situation.
MOCK DRAFT: Bears find new QB
Donta Hightower, LB, Patriots
Hightower was the one young pending free agent to not be traded away from New England, so it would make sense for the Patriots to keep Hightower. He should be looking to be the highest paid non-rush linebacker in the NFL, which would put his salary over $13 million a year.
That won’t be an easy negotiation if the Patriots want to keep him for the long term. The Patriots have used the tag five times since 2009, but only once in the last four years, so they could be inclined to let Hightower test the market and not use the tag.
Le’Veon Bell, RB, Steelers
Bell is the best running back in the NFL, but he comes with a lot of baggage for anyone considering a long-term contract. He already has had two knee injuries and has been suspended on two separate occasions. The Steelers also have worked him very hard in his four-year tenure, which generally is not a positive for the long-term prospects of a running back.
The franchise tag number will probably boost Bell’s value, so the Steelers could opt for the transition tag, instead. It is likely the two sides get a contract done, but probably not until the summer. The Steelers last used the tag in 2014 on linebacker Jason Worilds.
MORE: Full Steelers offseason preview
Eric Berry, S, Chiefs
Berry’s goal last season was to become the highest paid safety in the NFL, and it's doubtful his goal has changed. It's also unlikely the Chiefs' position has changed when it comes to a long-term extension, which will likely lead to them using the tag on Berry in back-to back-seasons.
It won’t be cheap at nearly $13 million, but given the state of the Chiefs franchise as a contender, it’s doubtful they will let him walk away. The Chiefs are one of the biggest proponents of the franchise tag, having used it in each of the last five seasons.
Chandler Jones, LB, Cardinals
Jones is going to be looking for a massive contract in the realm of $17 million-$19 million a year after his third double-digit sack season. The Cardinals gave up a first-round pick for Jones, and it would be hard to see them allowing him to just walk away after that.
Arizona last used the tag in 2012 on Calais Campbell and got a long-term deal done after that. They have been willing to make a few players the highest paid at their positions, so it would not be surprising if a contract gets done after they apply the tag.
Kawann Short, DT, Panthers
The Panthers have already indicated that they will be tagging Short, who is going to look for a salary that falls in the $16 million-$18 million per year range. I would think that's too rich for Carolina.
The Short situation feels somewhat similar to that of Josh Norman a year ago, when the team’s inability to get an extension done led to growing contract demands. The Panthers eventually rescinded the tag on Norman and allowed him to become a free agent. They probably won’t do the same with Short, but one side is going to have to blink if they want a long-term contract to happen.
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, Giants
The Giants used the tag on Pierre-Paul back in 2015, when the two sides were unable to agree to terms on a long-term contract. Then JPP’s career took a strange turn when a fireworks accident caused him to lose two fingers and miss most of the season.
The Giants signed Olivier Vernon in free agency last year to a $17 million per year contract, and there is no reason for Pierre-Paul to expect less. That makes the tag likely.
MORE: 2017 NFL power rankings
Kirk Cousins, QB, Redskins
Cousins is in line to be the highest paid player in NFL history if he becomes a free agent, so Washington will either need to make a very strong contract offer or use the tag on him for a second year in a row.
Cousins is in the driver's seat. There is no negative path for him to take, as his value only looks to increase with another tag, which would cost the Redskins about $24 million. Given the price, they likely would use the exclusive franchise tag, which would completely prevent Cousins from being signed by somebody else in free agency.