NFL teams have had two weeks to use the franchise tag. Now, their time is up.
The deadline to apply the franchise tag was 4 p.m. ET on Monday. Here's a list of who got the tag and who didn't.
Tags applied
- Jimmy Graham isn't going anywhere. NFL Media's Albert Breer reported that the Saintsplaced the tag on him Friday. We learned that it's the non-exclusive tag, which means other teams could try to sign Graham away for two first-round draft picks. There's next to no chance that will happen.
- The Carolina Panthers made sure that defensive end Greg Hardy, who would have made a killing in free agency, didn't leave town. He was tagged Friday and signed his tender Tuesday.
- The Washington Redskins placed the franchise tag on Brian Orakpo. They had to do it. The team has developed so few homegrown talents in recent years; they couldn't afford to let Orakpo walk. The franchise number for linebackers is $11.45 million. There's a chance Orakpo could push to get considered as a defensive lineman, like Terrell Suggs a few years back.
- The New York Jetsplaced the franchise tag on one of their MVPs from a year ago, kicker Nick Folk. Championship.
- The Browns placed the transition tag on center Alex Mack. That means Mack can still sign an offer sheet with another team, but the Browns would have five days to match any offer. (They would not get anything in return if Mack leaves.) Mack could also simply sign the team's one-year, $10 million tag offer.
- The Pittsburgh Steelersplaced the transition tag on outside linebacker Jason Worilds. That's the surprise of the day. Could that mean LaMarr Woodley is going to get cut later this week?
Didn't get the tag
- The Buffalo Billsannounced Monday they would not place the tag on safety Jairus Byrd, who now becomes our No. 1 overall free agent available this offseason.
"We remain open to getting a deal done with Jairus, but we have chosen not to use the franchise tag on any of our impending unrestricted free agents," Bills GM Doug Whaley said.
The Bills might have a hard time keeping Byrd away from his former defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, now the head coach in Cleveland.
- The Seattle Seahawks announced back at the NFL Scouting Combine that defensive end Michael Bennett wouldn't be tagged. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport confirms that no one else on the team, including kicker Steven Hauschka, will get the tag.
- Rapoport first reported that Indianapolis Colts cornerback Vontae Davis won't get the franchise tag. He could join a deep pool at cornerback. Colts GM Ryan Grigson confirmed the news.
- Brent Grimes won't be added to that cornerback pool. New Miami general manager Dennis Hickey re-signed one of former GM Jeff Ireland's best moves from one season ago. Grimes signed a four-year contract Monday.
- The Oakland Raiders didn't use the tag for defensive end Lamarr Houston or tackle Jared Veldheer. We're surprised they didn't at least place the transition tag on Veldheer.Â
- Rapoport also reported that the Baltimore Ravens won't use the franchise tag on tackle Eugene Monroe. That's a small surprise, if only because Monroe is so valuable. He could wind up as the highest-paid free agent this offseason.Â
- Count New England Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib among those who were spared the tag. Rapoport reported that according to a league source, the Pats have until March 8 to exclusively negotiate with him.
The latest edition of the "Around The League Podcast" works through our top 101 free agents and responds to some heat from Donte Whitner.
