The NFL franchise tag numbers have officially been released for 2024.

Teams use the franchise tag to retain key players that are on track for free agency, or sometimes to facilitate an eventual trade. The tag is set as the average of the top-5 salaries at each position, from quarterbacks to kickers & punters. Now, fans can learn how much their team's franchise tag candidates would cost.

MORE: Ranking the top-10 free-agent wide receivers of 2024

Here are the complete franchise tag numbers for 2024, via Pro Football Talk...

Quarterback: $38.301 million
Wide Receiver: $21.816 million
Tight End: $12.693 million
Running Back: $11.951 million
Offensive Line: $20.985 million
Defensive End: $21.324 million
Defensive Tackle: $22.102 million
Linebacker: $24.007 million
Cornerback: $19.802 million
Safety: $17.123 million
Kicker/Punter: $5.984 million

The league also released its official numbers for the transition tag, which teams can use to match offers given to impending free agents. That's used much less often than the franchise tag, however.

Here are the transition tag numbers, as reported by PFT...

Quarterback: $34.367 million
Wide Receiver: $19.766 million
Tight End: $10.878 million
Running Back: $9.765 million
Offensive Line: $19.040
Defensive End: $19.076 million
Defensive Tackle: $18.491 million
Linebacker: $19.971 million
Cornerback: $17.215 million
Safety: $13.815 million
Kicker/Punter: $5.433 million

The Cincinnati Bengals have reportedly applied the franchise tag to wide receiver Tee Higgins, taking at least one big name off the free-agent market. Other notable players around the NFL who are candidates for the tag are Giants running back Saquon Barkley, Panthers linebacker Brian Burns, Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen, and Patriots safety Kyle Dugger.

The official window for the NFL franchise tag opened on Feb. 20. Teams have until Tuesday, March 5 to apply the tag to impending free agents.

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With teams in the midst of OTAs, the team-building part of the 2023 NFL offseason is well in the rearview. For the league, that means it's time to start focusing on 2024.

On Thursday, the NFL announced a handful of key dates for next offseason, in the spring of 2024. Here's a look...

NFL teams will be able to begin applying franchise and transition tags on Feb. 20, 2024. However, most teams tend to wait until the end of that window to do so, preferring to use as much time as possible to try and work out a long-term deal. Most of the franchise tag decisions should come closer too if not on March 5, about a week before free agency.

The 2024 NFL season will 'officially' begin on March 13 at 4 p.m. ET. This date is significant because it's the exact date expiring contracts actually expire, and therefore the official start of free agency. However, the NFL allows a two day 'legal tampering period,' which will start on March 11, which is a Monday.

Teams can begin Phase 1 of the offseason program - usually just meetings and individual player workouts - in early April. If a team has a returning head coach, the earliest they can start is April 15. Teams with new head coaches get a little extra time, and can begin workout programs on April 1.

Teams will have until April 19 to tender any restricted free agents they have. RFAs not tendered by that point will become unrestricted free agents.

The second notable RFA deadline comes a week later. Other teams will have until this time to put in offer sheets on those players.

The league memo also included the 2024 NFL Draft, which had been set for April 25-27. Next year's draft will take place in Detroit.

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.