These seven players are the most likely candidates to get franchise tags in 2019For the 2019 salary cap, $190 million is being used. The 7.22 percent increase from the current $177.2 million figure is consistent with the growth in the salary cap in recent years. The average annual increase over the last five years has been 7.58 percent.
The franchise tag was originally intended to be a precursor for marquee players signing long-term contracts. It doesn't necessarily work that way. Just over 50 percent of franchise players (15 of 29) over the last five years have signed long-term deals (this excludes cornerback Josh Norman because his designation in 2016 was rescinded by the Panthers).
Traditionally, most players haven't been happy when given a franchise tag. The designation has evolved into a powerful management tool that restricts a team's best free agent in a given year from entering the open market regardless of whether he is a true marquee player. It can hinder the ability to gain long-term security.
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