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According to this handy NFL calendar, teams have until 3 p.m. CST today to apply franchise or transition tags to potential free agents. If you're looking for a primer on what those labels mean, check this post out from last year.
As those tags concern your Houston Texans, I remain of the mind that the Texans won't tag anyone this year.
/waits for inevitable tweet that the Texans have in fact tagged someone
//still waiting
///decides to just finish post
While things may be quiet on that front in Houston, there has been a fair amount of hubbub elsewhere today. To wit:
Source: The #Redskins will be placing the franchise tag on Kirk Cousins today.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) March 1, 2016
Sources: The franchise tag the #Redskins are using on Kirk Cousins will be a non-exclusive franchise tag.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) March 1, 2016
So if you've got dreams of Kirk Cousins wearing steel blue, battle red, and liberty white in 2016, you'd better be cool with not having a first round draft pick for the next two Aprils (assuming Washington is even willing to consider letting Cousins go). More tagging tidbits:
Bears officially used their franchise tag designation on WR Alshon Jeffery.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 29, 2016
Dolphins placed transition tag on Olivier Vernon.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 1, 2016
BREAKING: Panthers officially place franchise tag on CB Josh Norman. pic.twitter.com/TUB5xS6HBf
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) March 1, 2016
#Broncos have officially placed the exclusive franchise tag on OLB Von Miller. He will be a Bronco in 2016. They'll still talk long term.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) March 1, 2016
Miller getting tagged is only the first domino to fall in Broncos' free agency. Players they might normally consider using the tag on will now be free to sign elsewhere if new contracts aren't agreed to by March 9th. Two players in particular may perk up the ears of some Texans fans...
Denver tagging Von Miller means QB Brock Osweiler gets to market. As does DE Malik Jackson. Going to get interesting.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 1, 2016
And the final player to be tagged as of the penning of this entry:
Bills to use franchise tag on Cordy Glenn: https://t.co/OSWBsfMuxT (via @AlbertBreer) pic.twitter.com/1tURkTFvf0
— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2016
Speaking of the Bills, this is not tag news, but it still qualifies as noteworthy:
I'm told by a source Bills DE Mario Williams has been informed he's been released.
— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 1, 2016
We'll update this post as necessary. In the meantime, weigh in with your thoughts below.
UPDATE: Two more players were slapped with the franchise tag.
Chiefs officially have placed franchise tag on safety Eric Berry, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 1, 2016
Rams placing franchise tag on CB Trumaine Johnson, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 1, 2016
In addition to all Texans players, the following avoided being tagged by their respective teams:
Players not tagged, not that they ever were going to be, include: Sam Bradford, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Doug Martin, Lamar Miller, Janoris Jenkins
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 1, 2016
In fact, one of those gentlemen has already re-upped with his team.
Eagles gave QB Sam Bradford a two-year, $36 million deal, including $26 million guaranteed, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 1, 2016
UPDATE II: A bit more tagging before you go:
OFFICIAL: We have placed the franchise tag on Muhammad Wilkerson.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) March 1, 2016
DETAILS >> https://t.co/yC3y5A5ia6 pic.twitter.com/32MvVcifVC
The franchise tag the Jets applied to Muhammad Wilkerson is non-exclusive. Price tag: $15.7 million.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 29, 2016
It would appear Brett's dream of a Wilkerson-Watt pairing has been crushed.
ICYMI, our franchise tag has been placed on Justin Tucker: https://t.co/QTAQrlHG87 pic.twitter.com/VmvvTWCVFT
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) March 2, 2016
It would also appear my dream of Justin Tucker reenacting this kick for the Texans has also been crushed.