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The deadline for NFL teams to use the Franchise or Transition Tags on players for the 2015 season is Monday afternoon at 4 PM Eastern Time. As such, teams are waiting until the final bell before making their decisions, and reports are flying in left and right early on Monday morning.
We'll keep this page updated with news of any new tags that get applied throughout the day today. Unfortunately, it looks like the Packers' Randall Cobb may be the top free agent wide receiver on the market, thanks to a few of these tags.
Confirmed Franchise Tags
OLB Justin Houston: Chiefs
Adam Schefter reported this one at about 8:30 AM CT today.
Game of tag is underway: Chiefs officially placed their franchise tag on LB Justin Houston, per team source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2015
WR Demaryius Thomas: Broncos
Schefter was on this one as well:
Broncos will place their franchise tag of WR Demaryius Thomas before today's 4 ET deadline.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2015
WR Dez Bryant: Cowboys
We addressed this one in this morning's curds, but the report comes from Todd Archer of ESPN.
DE Jason Pierre-Paul: Giants
Here's the fourth tag of the day, first confirmed by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
K Stephen Gostkowski: Patriots
The Patriots had two candidates for the tag in safety Devin McCourty and kicker Stephen Gostkowski. Though the safety position is thin this year in both free agency and the draft, the Pats are tagging their kicker instead:
Patriots placed their franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski, per a league source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2015
Transition Tag
TE Charles Clay: Dolphins
In a bit of a surprise, the Transition Tag was used for the second straight year. In 2014, the Steelers placed it on linebacker Jason Worilds, but this year Clay got tagged. Though his production dipped a bit in 2014, Clay's best season in 2013 consisted of over 750 receiving yards and seven total touchdowns.
Will NOT be Tagged
DT Ndamukong Suh: Lions
This comes from a report by Tim Twentyman, writer for the Detroit Lions website:
The #Lions will not place the franchise tag on DT Ndamukong Suh.
— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) March 2, 2015
Stay tuned for more updates.