Feb. 11, 2026, 3:55 p.m. ET
The window for NFL teams to use the franchise tag is from February 17th to March 3rd.An NFL insider does not expect the Jacksonville Jaguars to use the franchise tag this offseason.Linebacker Devin Lloyd and running back Travis Etienne are the Jaguars’ two main tag candidates.
The window for NFL teams to utilize the franchise tag begins Feb. 17th and ends March 3rd. But not surprisingly, one NFL insider doesn’t believe that the Jacksonville Jaguars will use the franchise tag this offseason.
Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports recently shared what he’s hearing about the top free agents and early franchise tag decisions.
When it comes to the Jaguars, Jacksonville has two franchise tag candidates — the tag can only be utilized once — in Devin Lloyd and Travis Etienne, but Jones doesn’t expect the tag to be utilized on either player.
“Travis Etienne and Devin Lloyd are technically tag candidates, but sources do not expect Jacksonville to use the tag on either player,” wrote Jones.
In short, the reason that the Jaguars won’t use the tag comes down to the cost to do so.
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The projected franchise tag number for a linebacker is close to $28 million. That’s a lot to pay for a defender who doesn’t rush the quarterback.
The running back’s franchise tag amount is projected to be around $14 million, which is more than Etienne is expected to earn on a per year basis on his next contract.
Jacksonville also prepared for Etienne’s possible departure by drafting Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen last offseason.
Now, perhaps the Jaguars find a way to bring one of these players back on a new deal, but it won’t be by using the franchise tag.