Last year, NFL teams franchised a record 13 players. This season, they smashed that record. 21 players got the tag this time around. Now, six of those were kickers and punters, which is a relatively cheap tag, but even without those guys it still would have been a record number of tags.
The NFC was active as the Eagles franchise DeSean Jackson, the Redskins put the tag on TE Fred Davis while the Cowboys put it on Anthony Spencer. Yes, that's the Anthony Spencer whose career high is 6 sacks. JimmyK wrote about the shortsightedness of the Cowboys placing the tag on Spencer last week.
Drew Brees was the only player to get the exclusive franchise tag, which means he's not even allowed to speak with another team.
Notable players who were not franchised include Mario Williams, Vincent Jackson, Matt Flynn and the Saints duo of Carl Nick & Marques Colston. Steelers WR Mike Wallace was not franchise, but he was given the first round tender.
After the jump is the full list of players who were franchised.
Club |
Player |
Position |
Arizona |
Campbell, Calais |
DE |
Atlanta |
Grimes, Brent |
CB |
Baltimore |
Rice, Ray |
RB |
Chicago |
Forté, Matt |
RB |
Cincinnati |
Nugent, Mike |
K |
Cleveland |
Dawson, Phil |
K |
Dallas |
Spencer, Anthony |
LB |
Denver |
Prater, Matt |
K |
Detroit |
Avril, Cliff |
DE |
Indianapolis |
Mathis, Robert |
DE |
Jacksonville |
Scobee, Josh |
K |
Kansas City |
Bowe, Dwayne |
WR |
New England |
Welker, Wes |
WR |
New Orleans |
Brees, Drew** |
QB |
Weatherford, Steve |
P |
|
Oakland |
Branch, Tyvon |
S |
Philadelphia |
Jackson, DeSean |
WR |
San Francisco |
Goldson, Dashon |
S |
Tampa Bay |
Barth, Connor |
K |
Tennessee |
Griffin, Michael |
S |
Washington |
Davis, Fred |
TE |