March 2, 2026, 12:43 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
The Indianapolis Colts<\/a> are a prime candidate to use the franchise tag or transition tag this offseason. So, when is the deadline to do so?<\/p>\n The reason that the Colts<\/a> are prime tag candidates is that they are currently attempting to retain free agents-to-be Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce.<\/p>\n But with only one player able to be tagged and the other heading to free agency if a deal isn’t done, which player do the Colts’ prioritize? ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler<\/a>\u00a0and Dan Graziano shared what they heard coming out of the NFL combine.<\/p>\n Fowler is hearing that of the two, Jones is the “prime” candidate to be tagged.<\/p>\n “Pierce has a good relationship with Jones,” Fowler wrote. “If the team tags Pierce but doesn’t reach a deal with Jones, for example, that could be an issue for Pierce. Conversely, tagging Jones ensures he will be there in 2026, a move that would appeal to Pierce.”<\/p>\n Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.<\/a><\/p>\n Graziano added that the\u00a0transition tag<\/a>\u00a0is what the Colts would specifically use for Jones. If so, how does that impact things?<\/p>\n “That means Pierce could hit free agency and another team could sign Jones to an offer sheet (and the Colts wouldn’t get draft pick compensation if he were to sign elsewhere),” Graziano wrote. “I think the Colts push to get a long-term deal done with Jones to avoid those possibilities, but as of Saturday morning, it doesn’t sound close.”<\/p>\n The purpose of using the franchise or transition tag isn’t to have Jones or Pierce play out the season on those deals. That is not cap-friendly to the Colts, and both players want long-term deals.<\/p>\n Instead, it would prevent one of those players from hitting the open market, thus extending the negotiating window.<\/p>\n When is the deadline to use the franchise tag or transition tag?<\/p>\n The deadline to use one of those tags is fast approaching, with the Colts having until 4:00 PM ET on March 3rd to do so.<\/p>\n A franchise tag is essentially a one-year deal. The contract amount is predetermined and takes into account which position the tagged player plays.<\/p>\n