Franchise tags numbers Hakeem Olajuwon Jersey decreased by nearly nine percent acro s the board with the salary cap dropping from $198.2 million in 2020 to $182.5 million this year, as league revenues declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Collectively, the franchise tag numbers were on par with 2017 levels. The numbers are going to bounce back in big way with the salary cap projected to be at the $208.2 million ceiling that the NFL and NFL Players A sociation agreed to in May.A look at how franchise tags work is below. The projected 2022 franchise numbers and an examination of the best candidates to receive the designations next year follows.NFL teams can retain the rights to one of their impending free agents in 2022 with the use of a non-exclusive or an exclusive franchise tag during a 15 day period from Feb. 22 to March 8.How franchise tenders are calculated is misunderstood. Prior to the 2011 collective bargaining agreement, non-exclusive franchise tags had been an average of the five largest salaries in the prior year at a player's position or 120% of the prior year's salary of the player, whichever was greater. For franchise tag purposes, salary means a player's salary cap number, excluding workout bonuses and most other performance bonuses. The 120% and five largest salaries provisions have remained intact, but the formula component is now calculated over a five year period that's tied to a percentage of the overall salary cap. More specifically, the number for each position is determined by taking the sum of the non-exclusive franchise tags as determined by the original methodology for the previous five seasons and dividing by the sum of the actual NFL salary cap amount for the previous five seasons. The resulting percentage, which is known as the cap percentage average in the CBA, is then multiplied by the actual salary cap for the upcoming league year.This non-exclusive tag allows a player to negotiate with other NFL teams, but if he signs an offer sheet with another club, his team has five days to match the offer. If the offer is not matched, his team will receive two first round picks as compensation from the signing team.Under the exclusive franchise tag, a player will receive a one year offer from his team that is the greater of the average of the top five salaries at his position once the restricted free agent signing period of the current league year has ended (April 22 Eric Gordon Jersey for 2022) or 120% of his prior year's salary. The non-exclusive number is initially used as placeholder and adjusted upwards if the exclusive calculation dictates once restricted free agency ends. A player cannot negotiate with other teams with the exclusive franchise tag. The transition tag has been used with a lot le s frequency than the franchise tag. It is based on the average of the top 10 salaries at a player's position using the same methodology as non-exclusive franchise tag calculations. The 120% provision also applies. 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.The chart below contains an early look at the 2022 franchise tags. I keep track of the salary data nece sary to do the calculations under the franchise and transition tag formulas. I recently confirmed with my NFL sources the 2021 data entering the formula. The tag numbers are based on a $208.2 million salary cap in 2022.PositionCurrentProjected% changeCornerback$15,060,000$17,287,00014.79%Defensive end$16,069,000$17,859,00011.14%Defensive tackle$13,888,000$17,396,00015.26%Linebacker$14,791,000$18,702,00026.44%Offensive line$13,754,000$16,662,00021.14%Punter/kicker$4,482,000$5,220,00016.47%Quarterback$25,104,000$29,703,00018.32%Running back Kenyon Martin Jr. Jersey $8,655,000$9,570,00010.57%Safety$10,612,000$12,911,00021.66%Tight end$9,601,000$10,931,00013.85%Wide receiver$15,983,000$18,419,00015.24%By CBA rule, the players currently under a one-year franchise tag, like guard , are prohibited from signing long-term until the regular season ends on Jan. 9. Scherff won't be franchised for a third consecutive year in 2022. The procedures outlined in the CBA dictate that Scherff's third tag is the greater of 144% of his second franchise designation of $18.036 million or the largest number at any position, which is $29.703 million for quarterbacks. wide receiver and safety , both 2021 franchise tag recipients, won't get a designation for a second straight time because of serious injuries. Godwin tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee a couple of weeks ago. Maye ruptured his right Achilles tendon in a Week 9 game against the .Neither will wide receiver . His production this season doesn't justify a $21.556 million tag. Robinson has 32 catches for 353 yards with one touchdown in 10 games primarily because of a lack of chemistry with rookie quarterback .Franchise tags will be too cost prohibitive for the and with outside linebacker and safety because of the 120% of prior year's salary provisions. Jones' tag number will be $25 million. It will be $23.63 million with Mathieu. The are precluded from designating offensive tackle because his 2021 contract year doesn't void until last day of the 2021 league year on March 16, which is after the designation window has closed. LV WR #17 Negotiations for a new deal haven't been very productive. The have Elvin Hayes Jersey refused make the NFL's highest-paid wide receiver ahead of , who signed a two-year contract extension with the Cardinals during the 2020 preseason averaging $27.25 million per year. Adams can make a compelling case he should be the highest paid because of his sustained excellence. Since the start of the 2018 regular season, Adams leads the NFL with 415 receptions, 5,119 receiving yards and 46 touchdown catches. The Packers don't have a great track record in giving wide receivers a third contract.A non-exclusive franchise tag for Adams will be $20.12 million. It will be based off a 20% increase of his 2021 salary. Some salary cap gymnastics will be required to accommodate an Adams franchise tag. Green Bay's $247.882 million in 2022 cap commitments are the NFL's second most according to NFLPA data. 44 players are under contract while DeMarre Carroll Jersey the top 51 salaries (i.e.; cap numbers) matter with offseason salary cap accounting rules. LAC CB #27 is putting to rest any questions about whether he could a sume No. 1 cornerback duties in New England raised by early season departure to the in a trade. The 2018 undrafted free agent, who is playing under a $3.384 million restricted free agent tender, was named November's AFC Defensive Player of the Month. Jackson was just named to his first Pro Bowl. He will be an AFC starter.Jackson is arguably the NFL's premier ballhawk. He is second in the league this season with seven interceptions. Jackson has the NFL's most interceptions since the start of the 2019 season with 21. His 21 pa ses defensed are tied for the most this season. A cornerback in his prime