Leonard Williams among 15 players given franchise or transition tags
Franchise and transition player designations were announced Monday for the 2020 NFL free agency signing period, which begins at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 18.
Thirteen players were designated as non-exclusive franchise players, including Giants defensive tackle Leonard Williams. This year, one player (Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott) was designated as an exclusive franchise player.
A club can designate one "franchise" player or one "transition" player among its veteran free agents.
The salary offer by a player's club determines whether the franchise player designation is exclusive or non-exclusive.
An "exclusive" franchise player – not free to sign with another club – is offered the greater of (i) the average of the top five salaries at the player's position for the current year as of the end of the restricted free agent signing period on April 17; or (ii) the amount of the required tender for a "non-exclusive" franchise player, as explained below.
2020 FRANCHISE PLAYERS
- New York Giants: Leonard Williams, DT
- Baltimore Ravens: Matthew Judon, LB
- Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green, WR
- Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott, QB (Exclusive)
- Denver Broncos, Justin Simmons, S
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Yannick Ngakoue, DE
- Kansas City Chiefs: Chris Jones, DT
- Los Angeles Chargers: Hunter Henry, TE
- Minnesota Vikings: Anthony Harris, S
- New England Patriots: Joe Thuney, OL
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Bud Dupree, LB
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Shaquil Barrett, LB
- Tennessee Titans: Derrick Henry, RB
- Washington Redskins: Brandon Scherff, OL
A transition player is offered the greater of (i) the average of the top 10 prior year salaries at the player's position, which average is calculated using the same methodology used for non-exclusive franchise players (the Cap Percentage Average); or (ii) 120% of his prior year salary.
If a club extends a required tender to a transition player, the player shall be permitted to negotiate a contract with any club subject to his prior club's right of first refusal, except that no draft choice compensation shall be made with respect to such player if his prior club declines to exercise its right of first refusal.
The signing period for transition players begins at 4:00 p.m. (ET) on March 18 and ends on July 22. After July 22 and until 4:00p.m. (ET) on the Tuesday following the 10th week of the season (November 17), the prior club has exclusive negotiating rights.
This year, one player was designated as a transition player:
- Arizona Cardinals: Kenyan Drake, RB
The Salary Cap for the 2020 league year has been set at $198,200,000 per club. The resulting 2020 Cap Percentage Average ("CPA") tenders for non-exclusive franchise players and transition players are as follows:
NON-EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE PLAYERS TENDER AMOUNTS
- Quarterback: $26,824,000
- Running Back: $10,278,000
- Wide Receiver: $17,865,000
- Tight End: $10,607,000
- Offensive Linemen: $14,781,000
- Defensive End: $17,788,000
- Defensive Tackle: $16,126,000
- Linebacker: $15,828,000
- Cornerback: $16,338,000
- Safety: $11,441,000
- Kicker/Punter: $5,019,000
TRANSITION PLAYERS
- Quarterback: $24,837,000
- Running Back: $8,483,000
- Wide Receiver: $15,680,000
- Tight End: $9,117,000
- Offensive Linemen: $13,505,000
- Defensive End: $15,184,000
- Defensive Tackle: $13,143,000
- Linebacker: $13,737,000
- Cornerback: $14,197,000
- Safety: $9,860,000
- Kicker/Punter: $4,559,000
View photos of defensive lineman Leonard Williams.
Giants use second-round tender on K Aldrick Rosas
The New York Giants have made a qualifying offer (a second-round tender) to placekicker Aldrick Rosas, a restricted free agent.
That means the 2018 Pro Bowler can negotiate with any club. If a restricted free agent signs an offer sheet with a new club, his old club can match the offer and retain him because the qualifying offer entitles it to a "right of first refusal" on any offer sheet the player signs.
If the old club does not match the offer, it may receive draft-choice compensation depending on the amount of its qualifying offer. If an offer sheet is not executed by the deadline, the player's negotiating rights revert exclusively to his old club.
Rosas has played in 48 regular-season games, all with the Giants. He has made 62 of 75 field goal attempts (82.7 percent) and is 86 of 94 on extra points.
In 2018, Rosas had one of the best seasons by a kicker in Giants history. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl and named second-team All-Pro after scoring 127 points (32 of 33 field goal attempts and 31 of 32 extra point tries).
The 32 field goals are the fifth-highest total in Giants history. Rosas' 97.0 field goal percentage is a Giants record, and he was just 1/100th of a percentage point behind NFL leader Robbie Gould, a former Giant.
Rosas made his final 19 field goal attempts, the second-longest streak in Giants history. On Dec. 2, Rosas kicked the longest field goal in Giants history, a 57-yarder against Chicago in MetLife Stadium. Ali Haji-Sheikh had held the record for 35 years, with a pair of 56-yard field goals in 1983.
View photos of kicker Aldrick Rosas.
2020 NFL Draft to proceed; public events canceled
In consideration of current information related to COVID-19 and guidance from medical experts such as the CDC, and in coordination with public authorities in Nevada and the City of Las Vegas, the NFL will modify its plans for the 2020 NFL Draft, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced.
The clubs' selection of players will proceed as scheduled April 23-25. The NFL is exploring innovative options for how the process will be conducted and will provide that information as it becomes available. The selection process will be televised.
Public NFL Draft events in Las Vegas next month will not take place.
"This decision reflects our foremost priority – the health and safety of all fans and citizens," said Commissioner Goodell. "While this outcome is disappointing both to the NFL and to the Las Vegas community, we look forward to partnering with the Raiders, the City of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for a future NFL Draft as well as evaluating opportunities for other major NFL events in Las Vegas in the future, including the Super Bowl."
NFL delays offseason programs indefinitely
NFL clubs will delay indefinitely the start of their offseason programs, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Monday.
The decision followed discussions with NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith and consultations between the medical teams for the NFL and NFLPA, and based on coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance from public health officials. In addition, special procedures will be in place for the start of the new League Year until further notice.
Below are the latest guidelines:
Off-Season Programs
The parties will continue to follow the guidance of medical and public health professionals, including their respective medical advisors. As a result, Off-Season Team Activities will not commence on April 6 for teams with new head coaches and April 20 for all other clubs. The parties will periodically meet and reassess the public health situation to determine an appropriate start date for any offseason team activities and other related considerations as this situation develops.
Over the course of the next several weeks, NFLPA Medical Director Dr. Thom Mayer and NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills—in consultation with the Duke Infection Control Outreach Network (DICON), and other league and NFLPA advisors on infectious disease control—will develop a standard set of protocols for clubs to implement regarding facility cleaning and maintenance, equipment preparation, steps to identify player and staff who may be at elevated risk, and other preventive measures.
Free Agent Travel and Medical Procedures
During the upcoming free agency period, which begins on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 18, NFL clubs may not bring any free agent player to a club facility or other location to meet with club personnel. Further, club personnel, including members of the club medical staff, may not travel to any location to meet with or conduct a medical examination of a free agent player.
The NFL and NFLPA are developing protocols that will provide clubs with opportunities to review a free agent player's medical records from his prior club(s) and to arrange for a free agent player to have a medical exam in the player's home city or at another nearby location. These steps are consistent with those announced last Friday for club contact with draft-eligible college players.
Access to Club Facilities
As a further step to address issues relating to coronavirus (COVID-19), NFL clubs will close their facilities to players, other than those undergoing medically-supervised rehabilitation and treatment, for the next two weeks.
NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith said: "It is our responsibility to work together and protect the health, safety and well being of everyone in our business. Nonetheless, public safety is paramount during this national emergency and we will continue to work with the NFL, medical experts and seek guidance from federal agencies to adjust our business practices accordingly."
Commissioner Goodell said: "Based on the most recent guidance provided by leading health officials, and in consultation with the NFLPA and both our and the union's medical advisors, we believe this is the appropriate way to protect the health of our players, staff, and our communities. We will continue to make decisions based on the best advice from medical and public health experts and will be prepared to make further modifications as needed."