What can affect a player's eligibility for the franchise tag?

The concept of accrued seasons plays a significant role in determining a player’s eligibility for the franchise tag. In the NFL, a player must have a certain number of accrued seasons to be considered for the franchise tag. An accrued season is defined as a season in which a player is on the team's active roster for at least six games. Typically, a player needs to have played in three accrued seasons to qualify for the unrestricted free agency status, which subsequently impacts the franchise tag designation.

The franchise tag allows a team to retain a player by offering a one-year contract for a set amount determined by the player's position and the salary cap. Therefore, understanding accrued seasons is crucial as only those players with a sufficient number of these seasons are eligible for being tagged. Players without the requisite accrued seasons cannot be franchise tagged, which is why this factor is pivotal in the eligibility process.