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Not surprisingly, Thursday’s 4 p.m. deadline came and went and the Ravens front office opted not to use the franchise tag on any of its players.
The Ravens weren’t expected to use its one franchise tag or two transitional tags. It would have meant a significant pay increase for any of Baltimore’s eight unrestricted free agents.
The franchise tag binds a player to a team for no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position. The transitional tag binds a player to a team for an amount no less than the average of the top 10 salaries at the player’s position.
Baltimore used its franchise tag last year on linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs, who later signed a reported six-year, $62 million contract just before training camp.
Here are players around the NFL who did receive the tag: Steelers K Jeff Reed, Patriots NT Vince Wilfork, Packers NT Ryan Pickett, 49ers NT Aubrayo Franklin, Raiders DE Richard Seymour and Seahawks K Olindo Mare.
