What is the compensation if a player is tagged a third time in their career?

When a player is tagged for a third time in their career, the rules state that their compensation will be set at 144% of their previous year's salary. This structure is established not only to incentivize long-term contracts but also to reflect the player's value and performance over time. The logic behind this increment ensures that teams are motivated to negotiate more stable arrangements with players rather than relying excessively on the franchise or transition tags.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the current regulations governing player tagging. The choice referring to the average of the top five salaries or the previous salary's percentage, while it accurately applies to the first and second tags, does not apply in this instance where a player is tagged for the third time. The fixed salary determined by the NFL does not pertain to specific players but instead relates to broader agreements or minimums that cannot be applied in this context. Lastly, the notion that no compensation is provided contradicts the set rules designed to protect player earnings under repeated franchise tags.