Cowboys have used franchise tag 11 times, with mixed results
Tuesday marked the opening of the NFL’s franchise tag window, with teams able to start placing the designation on players with expiring contracts who they would otherwise wish to keep. The tag locks in that player for one year, at a dollar amount that is determined by the top five (or 10, in the case of the seldom-used “transition tag”) salaries around the league at his same position.
Once a player is tagged, he and his team have until July 15 to negotiate and sign a longer-term deal. If no deal is reached by the deadline, the player either plays the season under the terms of the tag or holds out entirely.
The Cowboys have a long list of players with expiring contracts, but none are expected to receive the tag treatment in 2025. Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa has the best case after coming off a career year, but the price tag of around $24 million- for just one season- is not a pill the Joneses are likely to even consider swallowing. The same goes for cornerback Jourdan Lewis (estimated tag: $20 million) and running back Rico Dowdle ($13 million).
That’s not to say the club couldn’t place the tag on one of those players- or someone else about to hit free agency- simply to buy a little more time to iron out a longer-term contract that’s financially more palatable for the organization (and gives the player more security in years). That’s a tactic Dallas has used several times in the past. Sometimes it has worked out for both player and team, sometimes it has just made for a very expensive short-term rental.
Here’s a look back at the 11 times the Cowboys have used the franchise tag and the eight players who have been tagged.
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