Wed Mar 05 12:40:00 UTC 2025: **Unprecedented Quiet at NFL Franchise Tag Deadline: Only Two Players Tagged**
**[City, State] –** The NFL’s franchise tag deadline passed with a record-low number of players receiving the designation, marking a significant shift in the league’s offseason landscape. Only two players, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins and Kansas City Chiefs right guard Trey Smith, were tagged, a stark contrast to previous years and the lowest number since 1994.
This year’s inactivity is surprising, considering the rising salary cap and the fact that 17 players were tagged in the previous two years combined. Experts attribute the quiet deadline to a less deep free agent class and the escalating cost of player contracts, making the franchise tag less financially viable for many teams.
Higgins, tagged for the second consecutive year, will receive a $26.2 million salary for 2025, a substantial increase from last year. This reflects the Bengals’ continued strategy of waiting until the last minute to negotiate long-term deals, often resulting in higher overall compensation. This approach has led to high-priced contracts for other players like Ja’Marr Chase and could potentially drive up the cost for Higgins even further in the future.
Smith, meanwhile, becomes the highest-paid guard in the NFL after his franchise tag elevated his salary to $23.4 million. This gives the Chiefs additional time to negotiate a long-term contract.
The quiet deadline had significant consequences for teams like the New England Patriots, who were hoping to acquire Higgins but were thwarted by the franchise tag. The Patriots, with the NFL’s highest available cap space, now face a diminished pool of top-tier wide receiver options in free agency.
Conversely, the Dallas Cowboys bucked the trend, signing defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to a four-year, $80 million deal before the deadline, avoiding the franchise tag process entirely. This proactive approach contrasts sharply with their historical pattern of waiting until the market sets prices.
The Minnesota Vikings also made a strategic decision by not franchising quarterback Sam Darnold, making him the top quarterback available on the free agent market. This allows Darnold to pursue potentially more lucrative multi-year deals, while giving the Vikings flexibility to consider other options at quarterback, depending on the readiness of rookie J.J. McCarthy.
The unexpectedly quiet franchise tag deadline highlights a shift in team strategies and the evolving financial dynamics of the NFL. While this year saw a dramatic decrease in tagged players, future offseasons are expected to see a return to a more typical level of franchise tag activity.
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