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2024 NFL franchise tag tracker: Chiefs tag LB L’Jarius Sneed, could trade him

National Football League
Updated Mar. 4, 2024 4:36 p.m. ET

The NFL offseason is underway, and teams have until 4 p.m. ET on March 5 to place the franchise tag on impending free agents.

There are two main types of franchise tags: non-exclusive and exclusive. The non-exclusive tag means that a player can still negotiate with other teams, while the exclusive tag prevents a player from negotiating with a different team. There are also transition tags, which allow a player to continue negotiating with teams, but his current team has the right to match any offer.

Each team can tag only one player, which results in a fully guaranteed deal for one season if the player opts to play on the tag. A franchise tag salary is based on the average salary of the five highest-paid players at a respective position (e.g. quarterback, running back, wide receiver, etc.), while the transition tag is the average of the 10 highest-paid players at the position. Regardless of the type of tag, players and teams can still agree to a long-term deal before training camp even if the tag is used.

Here’s the latest on who’s been franchise-tagged and who could be franchise-tagged.

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Players who have been tagged

Bengals WR Tee Higgins

Higgins has officially received the franchise tag, the team announced on Feb. 26. With the move, Higgins remains under the Bengals’ control, but it isn’t a guarantee that he’ll be with the team in 2024.

It has been speculated that the Bengals could trade him if they fail to reach a long-term extension, similar to what the Green Bay Packers did with Davante Adams in 2022. The Bengals could also ride the year out with Higgins if they aren’t able to agree to an extension, but he’d have to sign his franchise tag tender, which is $21.816 million guaranteed. Both sides have until July to reach a multi-year extension. Higgins will be scheduled to become a free agent again in 2025.

Higgins had 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games in 2023.

Chiefs CB L’Jarius Sneed

As expected, the defending Super Bowl champions have officially opted to place the franchise tag on starting linebacker Sneed instead of star defensive end Chris Jones amid reports of optimism from both the Chiefs and Jones that the two sides can reach a longer-term deal after failing to before last season. The Chiefs have reportedly granted Sneed permission to talk to other teams about a contract extension that could facilitate a trade, but it’s also a possibility he returns to Kansas City and plays on the franchise tag next season. Sneed ranked fifth on the Chiefs with 17 total tackles in 2023.

Players who aren’t expected to be tagged

Giants RB Saquon Barkley

There won’t be franchise-tag drama surrounding the star running back for a second straight offseason. The Giants aren’t expected to place the tag on Barkley, ESPN reported on Feb. 26. New York notably put him on the franchise tag last offseason, causing Barkley to threaten to sit out the season before agreeing to a one-year deal ahead of training camp. The Giants are still exploring a deal with Barkley, according to ESPN.

Barkley, who turned 27 earlier in February, rushed for 962 yards on 3.9 yards per carry and six touchdowns in 2023. He added 41 receptions for 280 yards and four touchdowns.

Cowboys RB Tony Pollard

The Cowboys are set to risk losing their starting running back in free agency. Pollard isn’t expected to receive the franchise tag for a second straight season, ESPN reported on Feb. 26. Dallas placed the franchise tag on Pollard in 2023, and unlike the other two running backs who were franchise-tagged, he signed the tender not long after.

Pollard, who turns 27 in April, rushed for 1,005 yards on four yards per carry and six touchdowns in his first season as Dallas’ lead running back. He also had 55 receptions for 311 yards.

Titans RB Derrick Henry

The Titans are letting one of their most iconic players in franchise history hit the open market. Derrick Henry isn’t expected to receive the franchise tag, ESPN reported on Feb. 26. Henry is set to become a free agent for the first time in his career after spending his first eight seasons in Nashville, rushing for 9,502 career yards and emerging as one of the game’s top running backs over the last decade.

Henry, 30, rushed for 1,167 yards on 4.2 yards per carry and 12 touchdowns last season.

Raiders RB Josh Jacobs

The Raiders won’t be going down the franchise-tag road with Jacobs for a second straight offseason. The standout running back isn’t expected to receive the franchise tag, ESPN reported on Feb. 26. Jacobs was in a standoff with the Raiders last offseason after receiving the franchise tag, sitting out training camp before eventually agreeing to a reworked one-year deal ahead of the regular season. The Raiders’ brass has changed since then, moving on from head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler to Antonio Pierce and Tom Telesco, respectively.

Jacobs, who turned 26 earlier in February, saw his stats take a drop in 2023 after leading the league in rushing in 2022, rushing for 805 yards on 3.5 yards per carry and six touchdowns.

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler

The Chargers are letting their longtime running back hit free agency as they aren’t expected to franchise tag him, ESPN reported on Feb. 26. Ekeler had a contract standoff with the team last offseason as he looked for an extension. He was granted permission to seek a trade, but he eventually remained in Los Angeles on a reworked contract.

Ekeler, who was once one of the game’s top dual-threat running backs, rushed for 658 yards and had 436 receiving yards last season.

Players who could be tagged

Stick with FOX Sports for the latest on players being tagged.

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