2026 Off-Season Thread

[Puck]

Originally Posted by sherck

No.

If we had Franchised tagged him, then yes.

But the Transisition tag does not give picks as compensation.

Not a straight up pick. A comp pick. Like when we lose any other FA If they play a certain amount. etc etc etc We could get between a 3-7 or something

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Originally Posted by Puck

For those of you that are good with contracts and draft crap. If DJ does sign with another team, would we get a comp pick in next yrs draft?

Nope, transition tagged players do not factor into the comp pick formula.

In the past, they were included, but the NFL and NFLPA changed the rule about 10 years ago.

[Puck]

Originally Posted by Puck

Not a straight up pick. A comp pick. Like when we lose any other FA If they play a certain amount. etc etc etc We could get between a 3-7 or something

I got the answer. Yes we could get up to a 3rd. depending on the money he signs for etc. But if we sign someone in FA. Lets say Trey. Then we would lose that.


I forgot about the last part about us signing anyone.

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Originally Posted by Puck

I got the answer. Yes we could get up to a 3rd. depending on the money he signs for etc. But if we sign someone in FA. Lets say Trey. Then we would lose that.


I forgot about the last part about us signing anyone.

Where did you get the answer?

You may have read outdated info because the rule has changed over the years.

[Puck]

Originally Posted by AlwaysSunnyinIndy

Where did you get the answer?

You may have read outdated info because the rule has changed over the years.

UGH. I was wrong.

No, Team A (the original team) would not be entitled to a compensatory draft pick the following year if they use the transition tag on an NFL player and that player ultimately signs with another team.Here's the breakdown based on current NFL rules:The transition tag gives the original team the right of first refusal — meaning they can match any offer sheet the player signs with another team.
If the original team declines to match and the player signs elsewhere, no draft-pick compensation is awarded to the original team. This is a key difference from the non-exclusive franchise tag, where the original team would receive two first-round picks as compensation in that scenario.
Additionally, placing the transition tag on a player generally disqualifies them from generating a compensatory free agent (CFA) pick for the original team under the standard compensatory pick formula (which rewards teams for net losses of high-value unrestricted free agents in free agency). The tag itself blocks the compensatory pick avenue, and there's no automatic comp pick if the player leaves after the tag is applied.

This is why the transition tag is used much less frequently than the franchise tag — it's cheaper (based on the average of the top 10 salaries at the position rather than top 5), but it carries significantly more risk with zero guaranteed compensation if the player departs.Sources confirming this include the official NFL operations site, recent franchise/transition tag explanations from 2026 coverage (e.g., Colts on Daniel Jones), and analyses from OverTheCap, CBS Sports, and others. Rules have been consistent on this point since at least a 2016 CBA adjustment that removed prior limited precedents for transition tag comp picks.

[Oldcolt]

I find it quite disturbing that this is the situation we find ourselves in as a team. Does not feel like a well run organization. We could lose both Pierce and Jones. These are supposedly cornerstones of the franchise and yet here we are with both apparently able to negotiate with other teams. WTF Ballard.

[apballin]

Originally Posted by sherck

Alas, a $37m deal with DJ now puts us over the cap by about $12m once in season amounts are factored in (slots 52 and 53 on roster, practice squad, rookie contracts over vet minimum, etc).

This, IMO, now means that it is either Alex Pierce or Michael Pittman on the Colts in 2026...unless Ballard does something out of character and signs AP to a ballooning contract with low money now and huge money later or re-structures MPJ the same.

Ugh...QBs make too much of the cap. If you have one of those elusive top 5 QBs then it is worth it. If you don't, then you are paying WAY too much of a premium in cap space for a tier 2 or tier 3 guy.

Honestly? I hope someone comes along and offers DJ a contract that we cannot match. We cannot tie up that much cap space in a guy who is not a true franchise QB.

(( And yes, some of you will argue that DJ is a true franchise QB and I will counter to say he is not. While he MAY develop into one, he is not right now and we will pay him as if he is. ))

I’ll quote Shane Steichen here but this season it’s intended for Riley Leonard


“You’re 1 play away”