FRANCHISE PLAYERS NAMED
Franchise player designations were announced today for the 2010 NFL free agency signing period that begins on March 5.
In 2010, a club may designate a franchise player or a transition player in lieu of a franchise player, as well as one additional transition player.
The salary offer by a player’s club determines whether the franchise player designation is exclusive or non-exclusive.
An "exclusive" franchise player – not free to sign with another club – is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player's position for the current year as of April 15, 2010 or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, or the average of the top five salaries at his position as of the end of last season – whichever of the three is greater.
If the player is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, whichever is greater, he becomes a "non-exclusive" franchise player and can negotiate with other clubs. His old club can match a new club’s offer, or receive two first-round draft choices if it decides not to match. The signing period for franchise players to sign with new clubs is March 5, 2010 until the Tuesday after the 10th week of the season (November 16, 2010).
A transition player receives a minimum offer of the average of the top 10 salaries of last season at the player’s position or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, whichever is greater.
A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives no compensation.
There are no transition player designations this year.
A position-by-position breakdown of minimum offers for franchise and transition players in 2010:
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FRANCHISE PLAYERS TRANSITION PLAYERS
| Position | Minimum Offer | Position | Minimum Offer | ||
| Quarterback | $16,405,000* | Quarterback | $14,546,000* | ||
| Running Back | $8,156,000* | Running Back | $7,151,000* | ||
| Wide Receiver | $9,521,000* | Wide Receiver | $8,651,000* | ||
| Tight End | $5,908,000* | Tight End | $5,248,000* | ||
| Offensive Linemen | $10,731,000* | Offensive Linemen | $9,142,000* | ||
| Defensive End | $12,398,000* | Defensive End | $10,193,000* | ||
| Defensive Tackle | $7,003,000* | Defensive Tackle | $6,353,000* | ||
| Linebacker | $9,680,000* | Linebacker | $8,373,000* | ||
| Cornerback | $9,566,000* | Cornerback | $8,056,000* | ||
| Safety | $6,455,000* | Safety | $6,011,000* | ||
| Kicker/Punter | $2,814,000* | Kicker/Punter | $2,629,000* |
*or 120% of a player’s 2009 salary, whichever is greater
2010 FRANCHISE PLAYERS
| CLUB | PLAYER | POSITION |
| Green Bay | Ryan Pickett | DT |
| New England | Vince Wilfork | DT |
| Oakland | Richard Seymour** | DE |
| Pittsburgh | Jeff Reed | K |
| San Francisco | Aubrayo Franklin | DT |
| Seattle | Olindo Mare | K |