The NFL franchise tag deadline was uneventful compared to previous years, as only two players were tagged this offseason. This marked the lowest number of players to receive the franchise or transition tag in an offseason since 1994,

The Vikings didn't tag QB Sam Darnold, which means the 2018 top-three pick may have a chance to land a huge payday on the open market.

A franchise tag is a one-year deal that keeps a player from entering free agency, which begins on March 12 at 4 p.m. ET. The two sides can continue working on a longer term deal until July 15 at 4 p.m. ET. If extensions aren't agreed upon by then, the player will compete one year under the franchise tag.

Another year the Bengals failed to get a long-term deal done with Higgins, placing the franchise tag on the star wide receiver for the second consecutive year. The Bengals have continued to wait until the last minute to sign their players to long-term extensions, paying them way more money since the market has been set.

The Cincinnati Bengals continue to take some heat for the Tee Higgins franchise tag. Some of it comes from franchise greats, too. Chad Johnson, appearing on ESPN's "First Take" after the news of a second Higgins franchise tag hit the airwaves,

The deadline for NFL teams to use the franchise tag was 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. That deadline passed with only two players (Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins) having the tag placed on them.