Darnold Hits Free Agency As Higgins, Smith Are NFL’s Only Franchise Tags

Sam Darnold will hit the open market after the Vikings declined to place the franchise tag on their 2024 starting quarterback by the 4 p.m. ET deadline Tuesday.

Tagging Darnold would have set him up for a one-year, $40.42 million deal in Minnesota, barring the two sides reaching a new agreement by a July 15 deadline for long-term deals. 

Instead, he’ll be able to sign with any team that’s interested when free agency begins March 12. Clubs can begin negotiating with players and agents on March 10, also known as the “legal tampering” period. 

Darnold signed with the Vikings last spring, and he led the team to a 14–3 record while playing on a one-year, $10 million contract. 

At last week’s NFL Scouting Combine, Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell said the franchise was evaluating the short- and long-term aspects of trying to re-sign Darnold, or rolling with second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who will have a salary-cap hit of just under $5 million next season.

Tag, You’re It

Only two teams this offseason ended up using the franchise tag, which pays a player 120% of their previous salary, or the average of the top five salaries at their respective position over the past five years—whichever is greater. In 2024, eight teams used the franchise tag.

The Bengals placed the tag on receiver Tee Higgins for a second straight year, and the Chiefs tagged guard Trey Smith.

Higgins is set to make $26.18 million playing on the franchise tag in 2025, although Cincinnati’s front office has indicated it prefers to reach a long-term agreement if possible. Smith would earn $23.4 million on the franchise tag in 2025.

On Tuesday, the Cowboys agreed to terms on a new four-year, $80 million contract with defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, who the team was reportedly willing to tag otherwise. That $20 million average annual salary is lower than the $25.1 million Odighizuwa would have made playing on the franchise tag this fall. Dallas also restructured the contract of receiver CeeDee Lamb to create $20 million of salary-cap space, sources told ESPN.