Looking Ahead To 2019 Franchise Tags

The NFL’s salary cap for 2019 won’t officially be set until sometime after the Super Bowl, but based on the direction the cap has trended in recent years, we have a general idea of where it may end up. Predicting an increase of about 7.22% on this year’s $177.2MM cap, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com projects a 2019 cap of $190MM, and uses that figure to get a sense of what next year’s franchise-tag figures would look like. So while the official amounts may end up looking a little different, these should be pretty close.

Here are the non-exclusive franchise tag amounts projected by Corry, using a presumed cap of $190M for 2019:

• Quarterback: $23.189MM
• Running back: $11.866MM
• Wide receiver: $15.982MM
• Tight end: $9.846MM
• Offensive line: $14.077MM
• Defensive end: $17.143MM
• Defensive tackle: $13.939MM
• Linebacker: $14.961MM
• Cornerback: $14.975MM
• Safety: $11.287MM
• Punter/kicker: $4.939MM

All of those figures are modest increases over the 2018 amounts, which can be found right here. The most significant increase comes at defensive tackle, where a new contract for Aaron Donald helped boost that figure. Cornerback, which should see an increase of 8.01%, was buoyed by fresh deals for Trumaine Johnson and Kyle Fuller.

With those numbers in mind, Corry also examines a few potential candidates to be franchised or to receive the transition tag. Pass rushers such as Dee Ford, Jadeveon Clowney, and Frank Clark are perhaps the most obvious candidates for the tag, but Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski, Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, and Giants safety Landon Collins could also get franchised. For the full list, along with explanations, be sure to check out Corry’s piece, which is an interesting read.