What is a Franchise Player?

Question

What does it mean to be a "Franchise Player" in the NFL? What are the benifits and restrictions for both the player and the team?

Answer 1

For a player, there is no benefit to being franchised. In fact, many players resent it. A "franchised" player only receives a 1 yr. contract that is equivalent to the average of the top 5 players at his position.

For the team, the benefit is that they dont have to reach an agreement on a long term deal with the player. There are two designations for a franchise player. An "exclusive rights" franchise player is not even allowed to negotiate a contract with another team.

A "non-exclusive rights" franchise player can negotiate a contract with another team, but if they sign with another team, then the other team has to give up 2 1st round draft picks, so it is quiet a steep price to pay.

I can only remember one franchise player signing with another team - Sean Gilbert went from the Rams to Carolina.

Other franchise players have been traded for less compensation, such as Peerless Price going from Buffalo to Atlanta for only 1 1st round pick. (Which the Bills used on Willis McGahee).

Finally, a team can only franchise one player each season, and it only lasts for one season, although the team CAN franchise the same player for consecutive seasons.

Answer 2

There are two types of "franchise tags". Exclusive and non-exclusive. Exclusive franchise tags prohibit that player from negotiating with any other team. Non-exclusive franchise tags allow the player to negotiate with other teams. With both tags, the player recieves a one year contract that is either 120% of their salary from the previous season or the average of the top 5 players at his position. Should a non-exclusive franchise player negotiate with another team and comes to term with that team, their former team would give the player's new team two first round draft picks as compensation. This also allows the team to not exceed the NFL's salary cap. That is what makes the franchise tag so effective because few players are worth two first-rounders to a team. The non-exclusive franchise players this year are CB Asante Samuel (Patriots), LB Lance Briggs (Bears), DE Justin Smith (Bengals), DE Charles Grant (Saints), DE Dwight Freeny (Colts), DT Cory Redding (Lions), and K Josh Brown (Seahawks)

Answer 3

If a player gets franchised that means he will be guaranteed to be paid the top 5 average for his position. If another teams wants him bad enough they need to give up a first round pick for him.

Answer 4

when a Player if Franchise taged the team keeps him from becoming a free agent the player gets a one year deal the money he gets is the average of the top 5 player salaries of his position