As the 2026 NFL season comes to a close, teams are beginning to think about their impending free agents and the possibility of using the franchise tag to retain their services. In this article, we’ll take an early look at the potential candidates for the 2027 franchise tag, including Puka Nacua, George Pickens, and others.

Franchise Tag Basics

The franchise tag is a designation that allows teams to retain the rights to one of their impending free agents for a year, while also giving the player a one-year contract offer based on the average of the top five salaries at their position. The non-exclusive franchise tag allows a player to negotiate with other teams, but if they sign an offer sheet with another club, their original team has five days to match the offer. If the offer is not matched, their original team will receive two first-round picks as compensation from the signing team.

The exclusive franchise tag, on the other hand, does not allow a player to negotiate with other teams. The transition tag is a less frequently used designation that is based on the average of the top ten salaries at a player’s position. Teams have the same right of first refusal as with franchise tags, but do not receive any draft choice compensation for declining to match an offer sheet.

2027 Franchise Tag Candidates

One of the most interesting candidates for the 2027 franchise tag is Puka Nacua, the wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams. Nacua has been off to an incredible start to his NFL career, with 313 receptions for 4,191 yards and 19 receiving touchdowns in just 44 games. He has also been named to the Pro Bowl and earned second-team All-NFL honors.

However, Nacua’s off-field issues may jeopardize his chances of getting a long-term deal before the start of the 2026 season. He was involved in a lawsuit earlier this year, alleging that he bit a woman while intoxicated and made antisemitic statements on New Year’s Eve. Nacua has since apologized for his actions and has spent time in a holistic care facility to focus on personal growth and overall behavioral improvement.

Another candidate for the 2027 franchise tag is George Pickens, the wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. Pickens took his game to a new level in 2025, with 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine receiving touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl and earned second-team All-NFL honors for the first time in his career.

The Cowboys designated Pickens as a franchise player for $27.298 million, which is the highest amount ever for a non-exclusive franchise tag. However, Pickens is still eligible to sign an offer sheet with another team, and if he does, the Cowboys will have five days to match the offer.

Other Potential Candidates

Other potential candidates for the 2027 franchise tag include quarterback Kyler Murray, who has a provision in his contract that prohibits a franchise or transition tag when his contract expires following the 2026 season. Murray’s contract has a provision that prohibits a franchise or transition tag when his contract expires following the 2026 season.

The use of the franchise tag has significantly decreased over the last two years, with only five players receiving the designation in 2025. However, teams may still choose to use the franchise tag to retain the services of their top players, especially if they are unable to come to an agreement on a long-term contract.

As the 2026 season comes to a close, teams will be looking to their impending free agents and the possibility of using the franchise tag to retain their services. With the 2027 franchise tag window opening on February 17, teams will have a limited window to make a decision on which players to designate. The candidates listed above are just a few of the many players who may be eligible for the 2027 franchise tag.