With the 2025 Scouting Combine behind us, the next big step in the NFL offseason is free agency.
Tuesday marks the next big deadline, as teams have until 4:00 p.m. Eastern to designate Franchise or Transition Tag players. That deadline comes ahead of the league’s official tampering period, which begins on March 10.
Here at SB Nation we are tracking it all, including the players that have received the franchise tag.
Kansas City Chiefs tag OL Trey Smith
Fresh off a loss in Super Bowl LIX to the Philadelphia Eagles — a loss that saw protecting Patrick Mahomes become an issue for the Chiefs — Kansas City is placing the franchise tag on guard Trey Smith. The Chiefs used the non-exclusive tag with Smith, meaning he is free to explore offers from other teams.
According to reports, the Chiefs hope to work out a long-term deal with Smith. If a contract extension cannot be reached, he would play for $23.4 million in 2025, making him the highest-paid guard in league history.
Cincinnati Bengals tag WR Tee Higgins
For the second year in a row the Cincinnati Bengals have placed the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins. This means that by placing the tag on Higgins for the second-season in a row as noted above that would mean Cincinnati would own him 20% increase over year’s number, instead of the normal tag amount.
Higgins played for $21.816 million in 2024, so a second tag would amount to $26.18 million in 2025.
According to available reporting, the Bengals are hoping to work out a long-term deal with Higgins rather than seeing him play under the tag for the second consecutive season.
The deadline for a long-term deal under the tag is July 15.
