Kirk Cousins Franchise Tag Basics
The franchise tag is a designation that allows a team to retain a player for one additional season at a predetermined salary level. The NFL uses this mechanism to prevent unrestricted free agents from leaving without a long-term deal. The specific salary depends on the player's position group and the top five salaries at that position, as reported by the league and the players' union. For a quarterback like Kirk Cousins, the tag uses the average of the top five salaries at the quarterback position, which typically results in a higher salary than the tag for other positions. This figure is finalized after the league completes its annual salary survey and the NFLPA confirms the numbers. The tag must be designated by the team's designated franchise tag deadline, usually in early March, before free agency officially begins. The player can then negotiate a long-term contract during that period or play the season under the tag terms. Forbes NFL franchise tag salary breakdown
How the Franchise Tag Salary Is Calculated
The calculation uses the average of the top five salaries at the player's position across the league, not just the single highest salary. The NFL and the NFLPA jointly determine these figures each offseason based on contracts signed and reported to the league office. For quarterbacks, the higher of the two applicable formulas applies, which often results in a salary that reflects the premium placed on the position. The team must guarantee the full tag salary for the upcoming season, and the amount counts against the salary cap in the year the tag is applied. If the player is tagged again in a subsequent year, the salary is recalculated using the new top-five average, which can lead to a significant increase. The franchise tag is not a long-term solution but a bridge mechanism that gives both sides time to reach an extension. NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement details
Kirk Cousins Franchise Tag History and Contract Timeline
Kirk Cousins was designated with the franchise tag by the Minnesota Vikings ahead of the 2024 offseason, following the conclusion of his three-year contract with the team. The Vikings used the franchise tag on Cousins previously, in 2018 and 2019, before he signed a four-year extension with the team in 2019. After that deal expired, Cousins entered the 2024 offseason as a free agent, and the Vikings applied the tag again to retain his rights while negotiations continued. The franchise tag salary for a quarterback in that cycle was determined by the top-five average for the position, which set a high baseline for any potential long-term agreement. The tag gave the Vikings a one-year window to finalize a new deal without losing Cousins to unrestricted free agency immediately. This timeline is common for teams that want to extend a player but need additional time to structure a contract that fits their cap and roster plans. ESPN Kirk Cousins franchise tag timeline
Previous Franchise Tag Uses on Kirk Cousins
Before the 2024 designation, the Vikings applied the franchise tag to Cousins in both 2018 and 2019, which kept him under contract while the team and his representatives worked on a long-term deal. Those tag years allowed Cousins to continue playing for Minnesota without entering the open free-agent market, and each tag salary was based on the quarterback position average at that time. The 2019 tag was followed by a four-year contract