Following on from our Offensive Series, we’re on the road to the draft, and as such it’s important that we cover how the financial side of the NFL works. Joing the team this week as we cover the basics of NFL contracts, free agency, and trades with some examples of how teams have benefited and failed with contractual decisions over the years. If you’ve ever heard the term ‘cap space’, and thought you needed a bigger hat, or if you’re just a numbers nerd, this one’s for you. If you’d like to dig into the terminology a bit more, check out this link which explains how NFL free agency works
Also, in a slightly surprising, anti-capitalist move, the NFL announced last week that Gamepass is currently free!!! Watch historical games, and original NFL Films content from the comfort of your own home for free, something that usually costs £150 per year! Click the link below to get your NFL fix, the perfect cure for social isolation:
Show Notes
Over The Cap
If ever you find yourself wondering about who is making the big money, and how much space your team has left against the salary cap, OverTheCap.com is a fantastic resource for filling in the nuances surrounding the financial side of the sport. Check it out!
2020 Franchise/Transition Tag Values
As discussed, franchise and transition tags are options that teams have to extend the contract of one of their players (one player for each type of tag). The contract is extended for a single year, and the player is due a salary that is an average of the highest value contracts around the league at his position. The chart below gives you an idea of what those salary values look like for a player who has been ‘tagged’. Listen to our episode above for a more in-depth view of the ‘tag’ system.
| Position | Franchise Tag | Transition Tag |
| QB | $26,824,000 | $24,837,000 |
| WR | $17,865,000 | $15,680,000 |
| DE | $17,788,000 | $15,184,000 |
| CB | $16,338,000 | $14,197,000 |
| DT | $16,126,000 | $13,143,000 |
| LB | $15,828,000 | $13,767,000 |
| OL | $14,781,000 | $13,505,000 |
| S | $11,441,000 | $9,860,000 |
| TE | $10,607,000 | $9,117,000 |
| RB | $10,278,000 | $8,483,000 |
| ST | $5,019,000 | $4,559,000 |
Important League Dates
With all of the intricacies of the NFL salary/contract system, it’s quite often good to check up on when key dates are in the NFL calendar. See the link below for a comprehensive view of ‘Improtant Dates’ in the NFL calendar: