The Cleveland Browns still feel strongly that David Nozoku could be a star tight end. The team used the franchise tag on Njoku on Monday, making him the first player to receive it for the 2022 NFL season.
NFL teams have until 4 p.m. Tuesday. ET will give a franchise tag to a player. Individuals who receive the franchise tag will be under contract with their team at a higher salary. Tagged players typically receive a salary equal to the average salary of the top-5 highest-paid players in their position.
Teams can specify whether the player receives a special or non-exclusive franchise tag. A player who receives a particular franchise tag can only negotiate a deal with the team that tagged him. Players receiving a non-exclusive franchise tag can negotiate with other teams, but their parent team has the opportunity to match the offer the player receives in free agency. If the team does not match, it receives draft-pick compensation for the player who leaves.
Teams typically use the franchise tag on players who command a larger contract on the market. Some teams use tags to keep those players for an additional season. Other teams will use the franchise tag as a temporary solution, while the team will work with that player on a long-term expansion.
David Njoku became the first franchise tag player in 2022
Njoku was selected by the Browns with the number 29 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He has played 65 games with the team, taking 148 catches for 1,754 yards and 17 touchdowns.
We've designated TE David Njoku as our franchise player and tendered 3 exclusive rights players
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) March 7, 2022
The franchise tag should allow the 25-year-old Njoku to return to the team on a one-year deal that is worth around $11 million per Spottruck. Njoku has expressed a desire to stay with the Browns longer, so it's possible the tag could be a harbinger of a bigger deal. Brown did not specify whether Njoku received an exclusive or non-exclusive tag.
The Browns still have Austin Hooper under contract, although Kevin Stefansky's offense rests on two tight ends.
Bengals name Jesse Bates III as franchise player
Tagging Cincinnati Bengals safety Jesse Bates III on Monday became the second team to be allotted a franchise tag.
Bates, 25, was picked by the Bengals in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He has started all but two games since joining the team and has 10 interceptions in his career. After a solid start to his career, Bates gained national recognition in 2020, becoming the second team All-Pro team after recording 15 pass defends, 109 tackles and 3 interceptions.
The Bengals did not specify whether Betts received an exclusive or non-exclusive franchise tag. If he plays under the tag, Bates will earn about $13 million per spottrack next season.
The Chiefs reportedly tagged LT Orlando Brown Jr.
The Kansas City Chiefs are placing the franchise tag on left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports. Selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2018 draft, Brown has emerged as one of the NFL's best blindside blockers, making the Pro Bowl in three of his four seasons.
The Chiefs were traded for the Browns last off-season after losing the Super Bowl to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which highlighted issues on the offensive line. Kansas City sent Baltimore a package that included first-, third-, fourth- and fifth-round selections in lieu of Brown and second- and sixth-round selections in return. Brown was expendable in Baltimore due to the presence of All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley.
The Browns started 16 games in their first season in Kansas City on their way to their third straight Pro Bowl nod. He is owed $16.5 million under the franchise tag in 2022 unless the two sides strike a long-term deal before the July 15 deadline.