NFL pushes back franchise tag deadline while awaiting CBA vote from players
Delayed once because of uncertainty over the proposed collective bargaining agreement, the deadline for NFL teams to use the franchise and transition tags has been pushed back again.
Teams now will have until 11:59 a.m. Monday to decide whether to use the tags on players. The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to use the franchise tag on outside linebacker Bud Dupree, and they will have a few more days to make that decision.
The original deadline of Tuesday at 4 p.m. was pushed back by two days when the NFL and its players association were finalizing a new collective bargaining agreement. The NFLPA, however, extended its deadline for players to vote on the CBA until the weekend, and the NFL decided to follow suit with its deadline for the franchise and transition tags. Players have until midnight Saturday to approve the new CBA.
In the CBA that expires after this season, teams can use both the franchise and transition tags. But if the new CBA is ratified, teams will have to choose one tag or the other – not both – in 2020.
The new tag deadline will push up against the legally tampering period for free agency, which begins Monday at noon. The new league calendar year and the official start of free agency is scheduled to begin March 18 at 4 p.m.
Among the players the Steelers could lose in free agency are nose tackle Javon Hargrave, backup offensive lineman B.J. Finney, backup tight end Nick Vannett and special teams captain Tyler Matakevich.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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