Franchise Tag Tracker: Which Players are Getting the Franchise Tag Today?

Today is the deadline for teams to use their franchise tag, and so we're likely to see some significant activity around the league.  The deadline is 4:00 p.m. ET, and we're tracking the latest developments from around the league.

First, however, let's discuss whether the Colts will use the franchise tag or not.  Really, the only options for the tag that would even remotely make sense would be to tag safety Mike Adams, cornerback Darius Butler, or defensive end Cory Redding.  Considering that the Colts wouldn't have to pay top-dollar to retain any of those three players in free agency, there is zero chance that the Colts will be using their franchise tag this year.

But other teams around the league have much more notable free agents this offseason and so some teams will be active in placing the tag on one of their stars.  For reference, here are the franchise tag numbers for this year:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Official franchise tag <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/s?src=hash">#s</a> on offense with cap of $143.28M: QB ($18.544M), RB ($10.951M), WR ($12.823M), TE ($8.347M), OL ($12.943M).</p>&mdash; Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/572446115246682112">March 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Franchise tag <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/s?src=hash">#s</a> on defense with cap of $143.28M: DE ($14.813M), DT ($11.193M), LB ($13.195M), CB ($13.075M), S ($9.618M), K/P ($4.126M)</p>&mdash; Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/572446503093977088">March 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Below, we'll be tracking the latest reports as they pertain to the franchise tag and those players who get tagged and don't get tagged.

Will Be Tagged:

Demaryius Thomas, WR, Broncos

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Broncos?src=hash">#Broncos</a> have officially placed their non-exclusive franchise tag on WR Demaryius Thomas.</p>&mdash; Denver Broncos (@Broncos) <a href="https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/572474503105654784">March 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The Cowboys have franchised Dez Bryant, source says. Not that we didn&#39;t know it was coming.</p>&mdash; Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeGarafolo/status/572465115980832769">March 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Justin Houston, LB, Chiefs

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Game of tag is underway: Chiefs officially placed their franchise tag on LB Justin Houston, per team source.</p>&mdash; Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/572404522062094336">March 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Stephen Gostkowski, K, Patriots

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Patriots placed their franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski, per a league source.</p>&mdash; Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/572483658252206081">March 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Will Not Be Tagged:

Ndamukong Suh, DL, Lions

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lions?src=hash">#Lions</a> will not place the franchise tag on DT Ndamukong Suh.</p>&mdash; Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) <a href="https://twitter.com/ttwentyman/status/572405240156196864">March 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Jason Worilds, LB, Steelers

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Worilds really was only true candidate for a tag by Steelers. They will let him become UFA</p>&mdash; Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) <a href="https://twitter.com/EdBouchette/status/572446826571288577">March 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Devin McCourty, S, Patriots

(based on the report that they tagged kicker Stephen Gostkowski instead)