That’s about what we expect in 2018, give or take a player or two. Expect no more than 10 franchise candidate this offseason. Two key free agents — Drew Brees and Nate Solder — cannot be tagged by the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots, respectively, based on language in their contracts. But most other standout players are eligible for the designation, which would guarantee a high one-year tender at the very least.
Here’s a look at the players who most likely will be limited in their options, either by the franchise tag (exclusive or non-exclusive) or the seldom-used transition tag, starting Tuesday up through the March 6 deadline.