Eight teams use franchise tag
Three players were designated non-exclusive franchise players by Monday's deadline, adding to the five that received tags Friday. All eight are permitted to field offers from other suitors in free agency.
Two offensive tackles, two defensive tackles, a defensive end, linebacker, punter and safety were tagged before the 4 p.m. ET deadline. No player was named an exclusive franchise player, which would have prohibited other teams from negotiating with that player.
Last offseason, the New Orleans Saints used the exclusive franchise tag to retain quarterback Drew Brees.
Free agency begins at 4 p.m. ET March 12, when all eight players named franchise players have limited unrestricted free agent rights. They can visit with and field offer sheets from other teams.
However, the non-exclusive franchise designation is prohibitive in that it acts as a refusal rights option for the players' current teams. The non-exclusive tag mandates that any team signing a franchise player must forfeit two first-round picks to his current team to complete the transaction if the original doesn't match the offer.
Here are the eight players who were tagged and the one-year tender.
Dallas linebacker Anthony Spencer's tender is higher than the $9.619 million tag for linebackers because Spencer played last season for the franchise tender of $8.856 million. Being tagged again meant a 20 percent increase over last year's tender.
Here are the eight players who were tagged and the one-year tender.
Buffalo Bills Jairus Byrd S $6.916 million
Chicago Bears Henry Melton DT $8.45 million
Cincinnati Bengals Michael Johnson DE $11.175 million
Dallas Cowboys Anthony Spencer LB $10.627 million
Denver Broncos Ryan Clady OT $9.828 million
Indianapolis Colts Pat McAfee P $2.977 million
Kansas City Chiefs Branden Albert OT $9.828 million
Miami Dolphins Randy Starks DT $8.45 million
