When was the last time Colts used franchise tag and will they use it in 2023?
NFL teams can now assign the franchise tag to players. Will the Indianapolis Colts be tagging any of their eligible players?
Tuesday, February 21, was the first day that NFL teams could franchise tag players. The franchise tag is a tool used by teams to help keep players on their roster when they are unable to agree to a contract extension with players. When negotiations fall through, teams decide if they want to let players walk in free agency or if they’ll franchise tag them. Each team gets one franchise tag per season, and by tagging a player, teams are agreeing to a one-year, guranteed deal that typically pays a player the average of the top five salaries for their position.
The majority of the NFL world will be watching the Baltimore Ravens to see if they’ll be franchise-tagging Lamar Jackson. The Indianapolis Colts will certainly be keeping a close eye on Jackson and Baltimore because Indy is in the market for a quarterback. However, the Colts also have quite a few contract situations that they must resolve. Is it possible that any players in Indy could be getting franchise tagged? Probably not, because the Colts rarely use the franchise tag.
When is the last time Colts used the franchise tag?
The tag is pretty much never an option for Indianapolis. The last time the Colts franchise tagged a player was in 2013 when they franchise tagged punter Pat McAfee. Since that year, Indy has either been able to work out new contracts with players or they just let them leave in free agency. That’s unlikely to change this offseason. Despite having 19 players set to hit free agency, Indy probably won’t use the franchise tag in 2023.
Colts probably won’t use franchise tag in 2023
Indianapolis has quite a few players that they should re-sign. The biggest priorities should be Parris Campbell, Yannick Ngakoue, and Chase McLaughlin. However, none of those guys should end up in a situation where the franchise tag becomes an option. Their salaries won’t be near the top five of their respective positions. Indy may want them back but the team certainly isn't going to willing to overpay just to have them on the roster next season.
If there is any soon-to-be free agent that is worth the Colts franchise-tagging, it’s linebacker Bobby Okereke. Okereke has established himself as a top linebacker in the league and will certainly have plenty of suitors willing to pay him for his talents this offseason. However, Indy already has Shaq Leonard and Zaire Franklin under contract so they’re likely just going to let Okereke walk, and Indy will go through another offseason without utilizing the franchise tag.
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