If Wes Welker returns to the Patriots, it won’t be on the franchise tag.
Welker is not expected to be franchised, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. NFL teams have until Monday at 4 p.m. ET to use their franchise or transition tag.
All offseason it’s been reported that New England would not use the tag on Welker after it was used on him last season. The Patriots could still use the franchise or transition tag on Sebastian Vollmer or Aqib Talib.
Miami tackle Jake Long, Oakland punter Shane Lechler, San Francisco safety Dashon Goldson and Jets tight end Dustin Keller are also not expected to be tagged per Schefter’s report.
