franchise tags

A franchise tag is a tool used by professional sports teams to retain a key player without immediately negotiating a long-term contract. When a team applies the tag, it offers the player a one-year contract guaranteed at a high salary, based on specific league rules. This allows the team to keep the player for that season while continuing negotiations for a longer-term deal or until a new agreement is reached. The tag provides stability for both the team and the player, though it also limits the player's ability to negotiate with other teams for that year.