2013 NFL Franchise Tag Recap
Alex Dunlap, Rosterwatch.com

There goes the franchise…

The deadline for NFL teams to place franchise tags on their current free agents passed Monday at 3PM central as we hurdle towards the start of the NFL’s new league year. In all, eight free agents were slapped with the tag while 24 other teams declined to use the classification.

Non-exclusive franchise tag salaries for 2013 are as follows:

Quarterbacks: $14.89 million

Defensive Ends: $11.2 million

Cornerbacks: $10.85 million

Wide Receivers: $10.5 million

Offensive Line: $9.8 million

Linebackers: $9.6 million

Defensive Tackles: $8.45 million

Running Backs: $8.2 million

Safeties: $6.9 million

Tight Ends: $6.1 million

Kickers/Punters: $2.98 million

2013 NFL Franchise Tag Recipients:

Jairus Byrd, S Buffalo Bills
Buffalo locks up a young, important piece of their defensive backfield, but does so at the expense of likely having to let a terrific offensive guard go in Andy Levitre.

Ryan Clady, LT Denver Broncos
Clady has twice turned down long-term deals that pay near the amount he will be paid as Denver’s designated franchise player in 2013. Following the 2013 season, Clady will be looking for “Joe Thomas money” in the range of a five-year, $60 million payday.

Henry Melton, DT Chicago Bears
A vital re-signing under new Bears DC Mel Tucker. Tucker does not run an attacking defense, and comes from a defensive-back-centric background. Tucker’s schemes call for pressure to be created bringing four down linemen while allowing linebackers and DBs to make athletic plays on the ball in space. Melton is one of the league’s best interior penetrators, making his franchise designation an easy choice.

Randy Starks, DT Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins elected to use the franchise tag on their two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle while apparently washing their hands of Jake Long and the $11 million per season he is asking for coming off an injury-laden 2012 campaign.

Michael Johnson, DE Cincinnati Bengals
One of the more underrated defensive ends in the league got the franchise tag, meaning the Bengals are seemingly happy to let RT Andre Smith test the open market with for the $9 million he reportedly desires.

Branden Albert, LT Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs threw a wrench in many an NFL draft board when franchising Branden Albert. Between Albert’s franchise tender and the club trading for Alex Smith, they have alleviated the two needs that most saw them addressing that the top of 2013’s draft. Andy Reid and new GM John Dorsey have left themselves in a perfect situation to entertain trade offers for one of the most flummoxing and risky No. 1 overall picks in recent history.

Anthony Spencer, DE Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are in a salary cap pickle, but this franchise designation, along with the restructure and extension of Demarcus Ware’s contract, just go to show that NFL teams can do a number of things to create wiggle-room for the players they view as indispensable.

Pat McAfee, P Indianapolis Colts
One of the league’s best punters and an all-around fun guy. McAfee has had the best average hang time of any NFL punter for two straight seasons. Good for Pat, don’t spend it all in one place.