The New England Patriots' new-look coaching staff is in place. Now, it's time to overhaul the roster.
Part of that process can begin Tuesday, as the NFL's window for teams to use franchise tags is officially open and runs through March 5. As a refresher, the franchise tag allows clubs to retain a veteran pending free agent on a one-year contract with a set salary based on their position. The franchise tag value for quarterbacks, for example, is $36.3 million, but just $11.3 million for running backs.
The Patriots used the franchise tag sparingly in the Bill Belichick era -- 10 times between 2000 and 2023 -- and haven't tagged a player since offensive lineman Joe Thuney in 2020.