The deadline has passed and teams can no longer use the franchise tag to keep a player from hitting the free agent market. When it was all said and done, a total of twenty one teams used the tag. Five kickers, three wide receivers, three safeties, three defensive linemen, two running backs, and a punter, tight end, linebacker, cornerback and quarterback were slapped with the tag.
Who were the players that were hit with the franchise tag? Here is a full list:
Atlanta Falcons: Brett Grimes, cornerback
Arizona Cardinals: Calais Campbell, defensive end
Baltimore Ravens: Ray Rice, running back
Chicago Bears: Matt Forte, running back
Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Nugent, kicker
Cleveland Browns: Phil Dawson, kicker
Dallas Cowboys: Anthony Spencer, linebacker
Denver Broncos: Matt Prater, kicker
Detroit Lions: Cliff Avril, defensive end
Indianapolis Colts: Robert Mathis, defensive end [signed long-term deal]
Jacksonville Jaguars: Josh Scobee, kicker
Kansas City Chiefs: Dwayne Bowe, wide receiver
New England Patriots: Wes Welker, wide receiver
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees, quarterback
New York Giants: Steve Weatherford, punter
Oakland Raiders: Tyvon Branch, safety
Philadelphia Eagles: DeSean Jackson, wide receiver
San Francisco 49ers: Dashon Goldson, safety
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Connor Barth, kicker
Tennessee Titans: Michael Griffin, safety
Washington Redskins: Fred Davis, tight end
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