How Franchise Tags Could Shape the Green Bay Packers’ Offseason

At 4 p.m. Eastern, the NFL officially opens its window for teams to place franchise tags on players entering the 2025 offseason, with notable names like Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals and Byron Murphy Jr. of the Minnesota Vikings in the mix.

Higgins, a talented wide receiver for the Bengals, is expected to receive the non-exclusive franchise tag for a second consecutive year. This tag will guarantee him a hefty $26.18 million in 2025 unless the Bengals can finalize a long-term deal with him before then. The non-exclusive nature of the tag means that other teams can offer Higgins a contract, but the Bengals would have the opportunity to match it. If Cincinnati declines to match, they would receive two first-round picks as compensation. Despite the significant cost involved, it is unlikely that another team will extend an offer sheet to Higgins, given the steep price tag and the draft compensation required to sign him away from the Bengals.

Meanwhile, Byron Murphy Jr., the young cornerback for the Vikings, finds himself in a more uncertain situation. Murphy is widely regarded as one of the top cornerbacks in the upcoming free-agent class, but the Vikings have yet to decide whether they will franchise tag him. Minnesota is sitting on $58.6 million in cap space, ranking 7th in the NFL, but they are facing the challenge of losing numerous key players to free agency. The Vikings also have a significant decision to make regarding quarterback Sam Darnold’s future and are currently negotiating a potential extension with running back Aaron Jones.

Murphy’s situation is further complicated by his decision not to defer his void year, meaning the Vikings will not save the $4.5 million in dead cap space they had hoped for. This suggests that Murphy may be preparing to test the free-agent market, which could lead him to teams like the Green Bay Packers, who are in need of a cornerback. It’s a situation to monitor closely, as Murphy’s potential move could be one of the biggest storylines of the offseason.

Finally, kicker Brandon McManus of the Green Bay Packers is another player who could see a franchise tag, though for a different reason. Kickers and specialists are subject to much lower tag values, with the non-exclusive tag for McManus likely to be set at $6.5 million. The Packers could also place the transition tag on him, which would cost $5.8 million and give them the right of first refusal if McManus receives an offer from another team. Given the relatively low price of the tag compared to McManus’ market value, it’s an interesting decision that could provide the Packers with some certainty moving forward.

As teams across the NFL look to secure their key players, these stories highlight the complexity and strategy involved in managing contracts and salary caps. For players like Higgins, Murphy, and McManus, their futures could depend heavily on these franchise tag decisions and the negotiations that follow.