With several key free agents this offseason, it may be surprising to see reports that the Dallas Cowboys won’t be using the franchise tag in 2024. While not using the tag makes sense for most of the potential candidates, center Tyler Biadasz would seem like a decent option. But because of a strange provision of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NFL owners and players union, the idea of franchising Biadasz falls apart quickly.
There are generally two ways that the Cowboys have used the franchise tag in their modern history. One is as a placeholder when working out a long-term deal, such as a few years back with QB Dak Prescott and DE DeMarcus Lawrence.