NFL Franchise Tag 2021: Full List of Players

The NFL offseason is beginning to kick into high gear, and Tuesday represented a big step in the process.

That's when the deadline passed for teams to apply the franchise or transition tag to players about to enter free agency ahead of the start of the 2021 league year March 17.

The franchise tag is an easy mechanism with which to retain a key star, and it could be especially valuable this offseason because of the financial issues teams face amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo previously reported the NFL and NFL Players Association agreed to raise the salary-cap floor from $175 million to $180 million. According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, the salary cap could settle between $180 million and $185 million, a sizable drop from the 2020 cap of $198.2 million.

Not only do teams have less money to spend, but the franchise tag will also be lower than it was in 2020 for first-timers since it's based partially on the upcoming salary cap.

For the second successive offseason, quarterback Dak Prescott figured to dominate a lot of the conversation. Prescott's gruesome ankle injury was unlikely to dent his value, and tagging the two-time Pro Bowler helped the Dallas Cowboys avoid a bidding war. The two agreed to a new four-year contract on Monday. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin and Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons were among the players to be franchise-tagged ahead of the deadline, while Detroit Lions wideout Kenny Golladay and Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry will have the opportunity to test the open market after being candidates to receive the tag as well.

Here's a list of how each team uses the franchise or transition tag as the offseason unfolds:

Arizona Cardinals: Tag wasn't used

Atlanta Falcons: Tag wasn't used

Baltimore Ravens: Tag wasn't used

Buffalo Bills: Tag wasn't used

Carolina Panthers: OT Taylor Moton (via team)

Chicago Bears: WR Allen Robinson II (via team)

Cincinnati Bengals: Tag wasn't used

Cleveland Browns: Tag wasn't used

Dallas Cowboys: QB Dak Prescott (tagged; agreed to four-year, $160 million contract, via Schefter)

Denver Broncos: FS Justin Simmons (via Ian Rapoport)

Detroit Lions: Tag wasn't used

Green Bay Packers: Tag wasn't used

Houston Texans: Tag wasn't used

Indianapolis Colts: Tag wasn't used

Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Cam Robinson (via Rapoport)

Kansas City Chiefs: Tag wasn't used

Las Vegas Raiders: Tag wasn't used

Los Angeles Chargers: Tag wasn't used

Los Angeles Rams: Tag wasn't used

Miami Dolphins: Tag wasn't used

Minnesota Vikings: Tag wasn't used

New England Patriots: Not expected to use tag on OG Joe Thuney (via Schefter)

New Orleans Saints: S Marcus Williams (via Rapoport)

New York Giants: DT Leonard Williams (via team)

New York Jets: FS Marcus Maye (via Rapoport)

Philadelphia Eagles: Tag wasn't used

Pittsburgh Steelers: Tag wasn't used

San Francisco 49ers: Tag wasn't used

Seattle Seahawks: Tag wasn't used

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Chris Godwin (via team)

Tennessee Titans: Tag wasn't used

Washington Football Team: RG Brandon Scherff (via team)

Franchise-Tag Estimates

QB: $24.112 million

RB: $11.112 million

WR: $16.43 million

TE: $10.167 million

OL: $14.507 million

DE: $17.752 million

DT: $14.178 million

LB: $15.657 million

CB: $15.266 million

S: $11.196 million

ST: $4.792 million

via Over the Cap