NFL Franchise Tag Primer: Chris Jones, Brian Burns Could Get Tagged in 2024

Sixteen teams could apply the tag to in-house free agents, including stars like Saquon Barkley and Mike Evans.

It feels like just yesterday I was getting sprayed with champagne by Kansas City Chiefs players who were celebrating after defeating the San Francisco 49ers for their second consecutive Super Bowl. That’s probably because it did happen just last week, and now I’m already cracking out stories about NFL free agency.

That’s how quickly the NFL moves on from one season to the next. In less than two weeks, the NFL world will regroup for the 2024 scouting combine in Indianapolis. A few weeks after that, the new league year officially opens with the free agency frenzy. But the offseason doesn’t start until teams are allowed the option of using the franchise tag on key in-house free agents. It’s time for us to assess which players might be getting tagged by their respective teams.

For 16 teams, whether because of their specific rosters or financial restrictions, there doesn’t seem to be any great options for the franchise tag. Those teams are the Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans and Washington Commanders.

For the rest of the league, here is a team-by-team look at who could get tagged when the franchise window opens Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. Teams have until March 5 to decide whether to apply the franchise tag.

Barkley (26) had a significant drop off in production in 2023, rushing for just 962 yards :: Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Cardinals

• Marquise Brown, WR

The speedy wideout has had a quiet stint in the desert since being traded by the Baltimore Ravens in 2022. However, Brown could be a candidate for the franchise tag because the Cardinals traded a first-round pick for him—plus, Kyler Murray has a thin receiving corps. If Brown finds a new home in free agency, Murray would have rookie wideout Michael Wilson and tight end Trey McBride as his top pass catchers. They flashed throughout the ’23 season, but they can’t stretch the field the way Brown can. The wideout, known as “Hollywood,” recorded 51 catches for 574 yards and four touchdowns in ’23.

Baltimore Ravens

• Justin Madubuike, DT
• Patrick Queen, LB

Both Baltimore defenders had breakout seasons in 2023 under the guidance of former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who recently left to become the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. Madubuike would likely be the priority for Baltimore because he elevated himself as a premier player at his position and might be as important as linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton. Queen finally showed consistency after three rocky seasons to start his career, but it doesn’t help that the Ravens already paid Smith. On the other hand, the Ravens do value having two standout off-ball linebackers. Madubuike recorded 13 sacks and Queen contributed 133 total tackles last season.

Carolina Panthers

• Brian Burns, Edge

The stud edge rusher is a strong candidate for the franchise tag because of what the Panthers have given up in order to keep him the past two trade deadlines. Carolina passed on multiple first-round picks from the Los Angeles Rams in 2022, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Burns also had a healthy trade market last year before the team decided to keep him again. It wouldn’t make sense for the Panthers to let him leave now for nothing. He didn’t have the best season in ’23, but not many edge rushers can explode off the line of scrimmage as fast as Burns, who has 46 career sacks in five seasons.

Chicago Bears

• Jaylon Johnson, CB

The lockdown corner was also shopped around at the trade deadline because he and his representatives couldn’t agree on a contract extension with the team. But the Bears didn’t receive a good enough offer, a strong indicator of how they view his skill set. Johnson had a breakout 2023 under coach Matt Eberflus, who was brought back for a third season, despite two losing seasons in Chicago. With Eberflus still running the defense, Johnson could pick up where he left off after a Pro Bowl season. Johnson recorded four interceptions and 36 total tackles last season.

Cincinnati Bengals

• Tee Higgins, WR

Higgins has flourished as one of the best jump-ball receivers in the game, but there’s uncertainty for his future in Cincinnati because the team just paid Joe Burrow with a massive five-year, $275 million contract, and Ja’Marr Chase is next in line for a hefty pay raise. If Higgins hits the open market, he would be a highly sought-after wide receiver. Higgins had 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns during 12 games played last season. He surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in ’22 and ’21.

Dallas Cowboys

• Tony Pollard, RB
• Stephon Gilmore, CB
• Tyron Smith, LT

These are three key in-house free agents the Cowboys likely want back for next season. That likely won’t be the case because the team is currently $19.7 million over the salary cap, according to OvertheCap.com. Last season, Pollard was hit with the franchise tag but had an underwhelming season during his first year without Ezekiel Elliott. Gilmore continues to play at a high level, but he’s entering his age-34 season and the team already has cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland.

Houston Texans

• Jonathan Greenard, Edge

After a few injury-riddled seasons, Greenard found stability during his first season working with coach DeMeco Ryans. At times, Greenard was the best edge rusher on the team, while rookie Will Anderson Jr. found his footing. The two formed a dominant duo by the end of the season to help the Texans advance to the divisional round of the postseason. Greenard, a 2020 third-round pick, recorded a career-high 12.5 sacks last season.

Indianapolis Colts

• Michael Pittman Jr., WR

Pittman has been a reliable playmaker for the Colts since arriving as a second-round pick in 2020, which is impressive because he’s had many quarterbacks in that span, including Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Anthony Richardson and Gardner Minshew. Pittman had his best career season under first-year coach Shane Steichen, recording career highs in receptions (109) and receiving yards (1,152).

Jacksonville Jaguars

• Josh Allen, Edge
• Calvin Ridley, WR

Allen elevated himself as one of the best edge rushers in the NFL last season and received some consideration for Defensive Player of the Year because of his 17.5 sacks. Allen has been a steady pass rusher since entering the league as the 2019 No. 7 pick, but the team had been waiting for him to make the leap that he did this past season. He will likely receive a massive pay day from the Jaguars, and if that’s the case, that would allow them to use the franchise tag on Ridley, who had an up-and-down first season in Jacksonville. Ridley recorded 76 catches for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns in ’23.

Jones (95) is one of the league’s premier pass rushers :: Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City Chiefs

• Chris Jones, DT
• L’Jarius Sneed, CB

Jones would be the consensus top-rated free agent if he somehow makes it to the open market. That could happen if the two sides don’t agree on a contact extension after failing to do so before the 2023 season. Jones made himself plenty of money by waiting because he had another dominant postseason run. If the Chiefs secure Jones to a long-term contract extension, that would allow them to focus on Sneed, who also stepped up in the postseason. Sneed gave plenty of No. 1 wideouts fits this past season. Jones recorded 10.5 sacks, and Sneed contributed two interceptions and 14 passes defended.

Las Vegas Raiders

• Josh Jacobs, RB

Jacobs, who was franchise-tagged last year, had a quiet season before Antonio Pierce was promoted as the head coach. Jacobs had a dominant five-game stretch but missed the final four games due to injury. Pierce and the Raiders have said they want the 2022 rushing champion back with the Silver and Black, but it doesn’t help his cause that Zamir White played well while he was sidelined. Jacobs ended ’23 with 805 rushing yards and averaged 3.5 yards with his 233 carries.

Miami Dolphins

• Christian Wilkins, DT

Wilkins had another productive season in the middle of the Dolphins’ defensive line. He recorded a career-high nine sacks with 23 QB hits and 65 total tackles. Surprisingly, the 2019 first-round pick has never had a Pro Bowl selection, but the Dolphins know how important he is to their defense.

Minnesota Vikings

• Danielle Hunter, Edge

With the Vikings not being able to use the franchise tag on Kirk Cousins, that will put all the focus on Hunter, who had another dynamic season and flourished under defensive coordinator Brian Flores. It wouldn’t make sense for the team to let Hunter walk after not trading him in October. He recorded 16.5 sacks in 2023.

New York Giants

• Saquon Barkley, RB
• Xavier McKinney, S

The Giants might be ready to move on from Barkley after an underwhelming 2023 season and a messy contract situation that has dragged on for a few years. But it won’t be easy for the Giants to give up on Barkley’s versatile skill set, which rivals Christian McCaffrey’s. New York would likely prioritize McKinney over Barkley because the former elevated himself as one of the best safeties in the NFL last season. McKinney received a 91.2 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus.

Seattle Seahawks

• Leonard Williams, DT

The Seahawks went all in at the trade deadline to acquire Williams from the Giants for a 2024 second-round pick and a ’25 fifth-rounder. The move, however, backfired because Williams’s arrival didn’t help ignite a star-studded defense that disappointed last season. Based on what the team gave up to acquire Williams, they’ll likely look to retain him. They also hired defensive guru Mike Macdonald to possibly help the defense reach its potential. Williams, 29, had 5.5 sacks and 62 total tackles last season.

Evans caught 13 touchdowns for the Bucs in 2023 :: Lon Horwedel/USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Mike Evans, WR
• Baker Mayfield, QB
• Antoine Winfield Jr., S

The Buccaneers will have a busy few weeks, with hopes of retaining all three key in-house free agents. Mayfield likely earned himself a long-term commitment from the Buccaneers after reviving his career during his first season in Tampa Bay. The same can be said for Winfield, a 2023 first-team All-Pro selection. The tricky one could be Evans because the two sides failed to agree on a contract extension before the season. Evans went on to have a memorable season, recording 79 catches for 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns.