NFL Free Agency & Trading Period 2022
Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag – deadline March 8, 2022
The NFL’s salary cap for 2022 will rise to $208.2 million, expanding by $25.7 million compared to last postseason. That is the maximum amount agreed upon by the NFL and NFL Players Association in May.
The large increase stems from a lowered 2021 cap due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous cap in 2020 was $198.2 million, but because teams played in front of limited or no crowds last season, the 2021 cap was adjusted accordingly and reduced to $182.5 million, its lowest mark since 2018. That required teams to get somewhat creative in efforts to be in compliance with the cap.
Prior to the pandemic, the NFL salary cap had been steadily increased each season in recent years in the range of $10-12 million per year.
Clubs that utilize a tender have until mid-July to work out a multi-year contract with a player. If an extension isn’t agreed to at that point, the player will work the 2022 season under the one-year tender.
There are three tender options: 1) Non-exclusive franchise tag; 2) Exclusive franchise tag; 3) Transition tag.
NFL Free Agency & Trading Period 2022 starts March 16th
Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag Players (8) – deadline March 8, 2022
Wide Receivers – tag average for position is $20.415 million
Davante Adams – Green Bay Packers
Chris Godwin – Tampa Bay Bucs
Tight Ends – Tag average for position – $10.93 million
Mike Gesicki – Miami Dolphins
David Njoku – Cleveland Browns
Dalton Schultz – Dallas Cowboys
Offensive Tackles – tag average is 16.662 million
Orlando Brown – Kansas City Chiefs
Cam Robinson – Jacksonville Jaguars
Safety – tag for safeties is $12.91 million
Jessie Bates – Cincinnati Bengals
Non-exclusive rights Franchise players
QB – $29,703 million
RB – $9.570 million
WR – $18.419 million
TE – $10.931 million
OL – $16.662 million
DE – $17.859 million
DT – $17.396 million
LB – $18.702 million
CB – $17.287 million
S – $12.911 million
K/P -$5.220 million
Non-exclusive franchise tag – This is a one-year tender of the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position over the last five years, or 120 percent of his previous salary, whichever is greater. The player can negotiate with other teams. The player’s current team has the right to match any offer or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation if he signs with another club.
