Even if the Browns don’t exercise a franchise tag on a player for a sixth consecutive year, the decisions made around the league could have a direct effect on the team’s plans in free agency and beyond.
Starting Tuesday, teams can place the tag on one of its eligible free agents, which binds the player to the team for one more season. The pay is commensurate with the average of the top five players at the position or 120 percent of the player’s previous salary, whichever is higher. The deadline to do so is March 6, and free agency officially begins at the start of the new league year March 14.