Bedard: NFL rumblings on tags, cap casualties (2 left tackles available) and how Patriots fit

Things are starting to get cranked up around the NFL thanks to today's 4 p.m. deadline to designate franchise or transition players.

A reminder of the upcoming calendar:

Noon Monday to 4 p.m. Wednesday — Legal tampering period between free agents and other teams allowed to enter into negotiations. Contracts allowed to be agreed to, but not executed.

4 p.m. Wednesday: 2023 League Year and Free Agency period begins.

There's been a flurry of NFL news. Here's the latest according to various reports, and then we'll get into how it may or may not affect the Patriots.

• Combine rumors of Tom Brady possibly coming back to play for Dolphins via Rich Eisen.
• Patriots don't franchise Jakobi Meyers or Jonathan Jones.
• Ravens place the non-exclusive franchise tag on QB Lamar Jackson.
• Jets officials fly out to meet with Aaron Rodgers.
• Bucs release LT Donovan Smith.
• Dolphins release CB Byron Jones.
• Giants agree to contract extension with QB Daniel Jones that's a reported 4 years and $40 million per. Franchise RB Saquon Barkley.
• Cardinals to release WR Chosen (formerly Robbie) Anderson.
• Bengals unlikely to tag S Jessie Bates
• Geno Smith gets 3-year extension from Seahawks
• Chiefs expected to release DE Frank Clark
• Chiefs will not tag LT Orlando Brown
• NFL reinstates Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley

BSJ ANALYSIS

• Combine rumors of Tom Brady possibly coming back to play for Dolphins via Rich Eisen.

This doesn't surprise me and I think the idea is at least of some interest for Brady at this point, no matter how many kittens he adopts. No inside information on this, but he knows he still can play at a high level on a good team and would look at the Dolphins as a good situation. I think Brady definitely retired with the best intentions this time, but settling in Miami near his kids ... he might think he can make the family work with playing — but he would only play for the Dolphins.

For drama, I would love to see it but I doubt it ultimately happens.

• Patriots don't franchise Jakobi Meyers or Jonathan Jones.

Not a surprise. It would be $19.7 million for a WR, and $18.1 million for a CB. You'll get the usual from the Patriots through various conduits ... "We love the player and hope to have them back." With most players in this position, they give the Patriots a chance to match after they establish their market. Jones will have a better market than Meyers. I could totally see Meyers coming back at around $11.5-12 million (Nelson Agholor's AAV was $11 million)

• Ravens place the non-exclusive franchise tag on QB Lamar Jackson.

This signals that Baltimore is open for business on Jackson, who has been a problem with injuries and on his contract. The Ravens just might want to move on. Another team could sign him to an offer sheet and if the Ravens don't match, they would receive 2023 and 2024 first-round picks (a team must have both). But the Ravens could also take less than that if Jackson gets the contract he likes. 

Figure Miami, Carolina, Washington, New York Jets and Colts will check in. I think Jackson gets dealt by the start of the league year. 

• Jets contingent flies out to meet with Aaron Rodgers.

The feeling around the league is that this will get done. The Packers are basically done with Rodgers. That will make things interesting in the AFC East.

• Bucs release LT Donovan Smith. Chiefs will not tag LT Orlando Brown

The Patriots are without one starting OT, so these players will get talked about a lot. But I think there's very little chance of anything happening, unless the market drops out on Smith (Brown is going to get a boatload).

The Patriots have never spent on the offensive line on outside players, especially tackle:

Matt Light, second-round pick
Nate Solder, first-round pick
Sebastian Vollmer, second-round pick

The Patriots have only paid Trent Brown an average of $7 million each of his three seasons. G Brian Waters didn't break the bank.

Plus, the Patriots have Conor McDermott. This position is calling for a tackle in the first or second round, not a pricey free agent.

• Dolphins release CB Byron Jones.

Would be a flier at some point considering he recently said he can't run or jump.

• Giants agree to contract extension with QB Daniel Jones that's a reported 4 years and $40 million per. Franchise RB Saquon Barkley.

Willing to bet the Giants can get out of this deal after two or three years once the real contract value is known.

• Cardinals to release WR Chosen (formerly Robby) Anderson.

Patriots showed interest in Anderson at this point last year, so it would not be a surprise if they revisit that and he's kind of it at receiver for free agency. I could definitely see that. Hoping for more, maybe it comes in the draft.

• Bengals unlikely to tag S Jessie Bates

Even if Devin McCourty retires, I can't see the Patriots paying the freight on this. Bates wants to get paid — he threatened a hold out last year and Bengals called his bluff. Free safety is kind of a get-back position in this defense so, to them, it shouldn't take many resources to staff. 

• Geno Smith gets 3-year extension from Seahawks

Smith played really well last season and this is a good move and decent contract where they can get out after a year. The floor for Anthony Richardson will be the 5th pick to Seattle. That would be a perfect sit-and-develop spot. If Richardson is not fully ready after Year 1, you keep Smith.

• Chiefs expected to release DE Frank Clark

Patriots don't need help at DE.

• NFL reinstates Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley

I'll tell you what, if the Patriots are going to trade for a young former Alabama receiver , I'd rather have Ridley, who is playing on his delayed fifth-year option ($11.1 million) after his gambling suspension. Jaguars aren't invested in him yet. Maybe they would listen. He's better than Jerry Jeudy, and would be a better investment than DeAndre Hopkins, Allen Robinson or Brandin Cooks. 

Jaguars, at a maximum, gave up a 2023 5th and a 2024 second-rounder. Would they take a 2023 2nd -ounder? Bet Belichick was kicking himself for not making the deal for Ridley in the first place. It was his type of move.