Starting Tuesday, NFL teams can start using the franchise tag on players as a means for another year of service without free agency and in hopes of reaching a long term deal.
Teams have until March 5 to use it, and once it's tendered and signed, teams and players have until July 15 to try to negotiate a deal.
If no deal is reached the player must play until that tag, which is not to be less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's respective position.
In each of the past two years, five teams each have used the tag on players, with only three able to reach a deal before the deadline.