March 3, 2026, 5:30 p.m. ET

Tuesday marked the official deadline for all 32 NFL teams to use a tag on players whose contracts were set to expire ahead of the new league year on March 11.

Another one of those deadlines have come and gone, the Buffalo Bills decided to not use the tag option once again. The Bills have rarely used the franchise tag in the franchise’s history.

With limited salary cap space as the Bills still remain slightly over the $301.2 million cap for the 2026 season, it makes sense that the team did not use the option.

Before the 4 p.m. franchise tag deadline on Tuesday, four players across the NFL had the option slapped on them by their teams.

Regarding Buffalo and the franchise tag, the Bills have only used it five times in team history. In addition, the transition tag was used by the Bills on one other occasion (tight end Charles Clay).

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Here is a rundown on the Bills’ franchise tag history:

OL John Fina (1996)Jan 31, 1993; Pasadena, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Buffalo Bills offensive lineman John Fina (70) on the field prior to Super Bowl XXVII against the Dallas Cowboys at the Rose Bowl. The Cowboys defeated the Bills 52-17. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports

John Fina was the first player franchise tagged by the Bills in 1996. The two sides worked out a long-term extension and he played six more seasons in Buffalo.

WR Peerless Price (2003)Nov 26, 2000; Tampa, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Peerless Price (81) runs with the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium during the 2000 season. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

Peerless Price signed the $5M tag after the 2002 season but then departed for the Falcons via trade for a first-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. He eventually returned to the Bills after three years there.

CB Nate Clements (2006)Oct 31, 2004; Orchard Park, NY, USA: FILE PHOTO; Buffalo Bills punt returner Nate Clements (22) carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Network

After playing on the $5.9M franchise tag in 2006, Nate Clements departed the following offseason. He signed an eight-year deal with the 49ers which made him the highest-paid defender in the NFL at that time ($80M).

S Jairus Byrd (2013)Dec 1, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Buffalo Bills free safety Jairus Byrd (31) and the Buffalo Bills defense tackle Atlanta Falcons running back Steven Jackson (39) during the second half at the Rogers Center. Falcons beat the Bills 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

A three-time Pro Bowler with the Bills, Jairus Byrd signed the $6.9M tag in 2013. He departed for the Saints prior to the 2014 season and injury issues followed. Byrd never reached Pro Bowl status again.

OT Cordy Glenn (2016)Dec 29, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; Buffalo Bills tackle Cordy Glenn (77) blocks New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones (95) during the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The last time the Bills used the tag was on left tackle Cordy Glenn. He never played on the $13.7M tag, as the two sides reached a five-year extension.

Glenn was eventually traded to the Bengals in March 2018 by Beane for a first-round pick which helped the Bills move at that year’s draft to select quarterback Josh Allen. Glenn did not play in the league by 2020