NFL Franchise Tag Winners and Losers: Tee Higgins Stuck Again, Sam Darnold in Limbo

That single word — posted by Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins on X — summed up his situation perfectly. For the second straight offseason, Higgins finds himself locked into the franchise tag, forced to accept a short-term payday instead of the long-term deal every player dreams of. Sure, it’s good money, but it’s not the security or freedom he wants.

As for everyone else? The game’s already over.

Tuesday marked the NFL’s final deadline for teams to apply franchise or transition tags before the league’s new year officially kicks off — and with it, free agency — at 4 p.m. ET today, March 12. Any team wanting to lock down a key free agent with a tag had to do so by then.

In the end, only two players were tagged: Higgins and Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith. Both received the non-exclusive franchise tag, meaning they can technically negotiate with other teams. But realistically, any team wanting to steal them would need to cough up two first-round draft picks if their current teams refuse to match an offer — a price so steep, it rarely happens.

So, who came out on top? And who took the L at this year’s franchise tag deadline? Let’s break it down.

Winners

NFL Players (Mostly)

Players generally hate the franchise tag — it’s a financial windfall, yes, but it also blocks them from testing the open market or securing a long-term deal. The good news? Almost all 2025 free agents avoided it, leaving them free to cash in during free agency.

Joe Burrow & Ja’Marr Chase

Higgins’ tag means Cincinnati’s dangerous offensive trio — Burrow, Chase, and Higgins — is likely staying intact for 2025. That’s great news for Burrow, who’s been vocal about keeping his weapons around. Meanwhile, with Higgins’ situation settled (for now), the Bengals can shift their focus to making Chase the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL, something the team’s director of player personnel, Duke Tobin, publicly promised at the scouting combine.

Veteran Wide Receivers

By tagging Higgins, the Bengals kept him off the open market — which is music to the ears of veteran receivers like Davante Adams, Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, and DeAndre Hopkins. Without Higgins out there driving prices down, these experienced pass-catchers could see more demand (and bigger contracts) from receiver-needy teams.

Trey Smith

The Chiefs guard might have preferred a long-term deal, but considering he was a sixth-round pick in 2021 making less than $1 million a year, a fully guaranteed $23.4 million tag in 2025 is a massive raise. And there’s still time to work out an extension before the July 15 deadline.

Dallas Cowboys

After ghosting free agency in 2024 and procrastinating on extensions for CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott, the Cowboys made a savvy move by inking DT Osa Odighizuwa to a four-year, $80 million deal (including $58 million guaranteed). That’s far cheaper than slapping him with a $25+ million tag — and the savings can help Dallas get future deals done for stars like Micah Parsons. Plus, restructuring Lamb’s contract freed up an extra $20 million in cap space for 2025.

Alaric Jackson

The Rams’ left tackle secured a three-year, $57 million extension rather than risking the tag or waiting to hit free agency. It’s not top-of-the-market money, but it’s a solid payday for a reliable starter — and avoids any tag drama entirely.

Sam Darnold (Kind of)

The Vikings opted not to tag their 2024 Pro Bowl quarterback, freeing Darnold to explore the market. That means he could chase something in the ballpark of Baker Mayfield’s 3-year, $100 million contract with Tampa Bay.

Losers

Sam Darnold (Again, Kind of)

While Darnold is free to negotiate, it’s clear Minnesota isn’t desperate to bring him back — at least not at top dollar. If he returns, it’ll likely be at a team-friendly rate and with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings after missing his rookie year with a knee injury. If Darnold wants to cash in elsewhere (Las Vegas? Cleveland? Tennessee?), he risks stepping into a much less stable situation.

Aaron Rodgers

Darnold’s freedom complicates things for Rodgers. With younger options like Darnold hitting the market and teams already wary of Rodgers’ age, injuries, and off-field antics, the four-time MVP might not find his next landing spot as quickly as he hopes.

Tee Higgins

Back-to-back franchise tags come with a 20% raise, meaning Higgins will make $26.2 million in 2025 — 10th among all NFL receivers. But that’s still short of the long-term deal he craves, and Higgins, who’s missed time in three of his five seasons, knows all too well how fragile the future can be. The Bengals say they’ll keep working on an extension, but with Chase and pass rusher Trey Hendrickson also due for new deals, Higgins may have to wait his turn — again.

Alex Cappa & Sheldon Rankins

These two became cap casualties, as the Bengals cut both to clear nearly $18 million in cap space to help fund future extensions. It’s a reminder that when stars get paid, someone else often gets shown the door.

Free Agents as a Whole?

While most players avoided the tag, the fact that only two were tagged at all signals that teams aren’t exactly thrilled with the 2025 free agent class. Even with the salary cap soaring to a record $279.2 million, teams may be hesitant to spend big — a bad sign for mid-tier free agents hoping for a payday.

Final Thoughts

The franchise tag deadline is always a mix of relief and frustration. This year, Higgins and Smith got the tag, while everyone else escaped — some to big-money deals, others to uncertainty. Either way, the next few weeks of free agency will be fascinating to watch.