21 Players Receive Franchise Tag

The National Football League has announced that record 21 players received the franchise tag prior to the 4pm ET deadline on March 5. The previous high was 14 players.

Teams and players have until July 15 to reach agreement on multi-year contract extensions.

Here's a list of players who have been tagged (with offense, defense projections of the costs of those tenders)

Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell (projected cost: $10.595 million)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes (projected cost: $10.431 million)
Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (projected cost: $7.778 million)
Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (projected cost: $7.778 million)
Cincinnati Bengals kicker Mike Nugent (projected cost: $2.665 million)
Cleveland Browns kicker Phil Dawson (projected cost: $3.81 million, 120 percent his 2011 franchise tender amount)
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Anthony Spencer (projected cost: $8.843 million)
Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater (projected cost: $2.665 million)
Detroit Lions defensive end Cliff Avril (projected cost: $10.595 million)
Indianapolis Colts defensive end Robert Mathis (projected cost: $10.595 million)
Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee (projected cost: $2.665 million)
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (projected cost: $9.443 million)
New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker (projected cost: $9.443 million)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (projected cost: ~$15.76 million*)
New York Giants punter Steve Weatherford (projected cost: $2.665 million)
Oakland Raiders safety Tyvon Branch (projected cost: $6.22 million)
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson (projected cost: $9.443 million)
San Francisco 49ers safety Dashon Goldson (projected cost: $6.22 million)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Connor Barth (projected cost: $2.665 million)
Tennessee Titans safety Michael Griffin (projected cost: $6.22 million)
Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis (projected cost: $5.416 million)

Aside from Saints quarterback Drew Brees, each player received the "non-exclusive" tender and are able to negotiate with other teams when the free agent signing period begins on March 13.

*The amount of Brees' tender will be the average of the Top 5 quarterback salaries at the end of the Restricted Free Agent signing period. Currently, that figure, assuming the Colts declining to pick up Peyton Manning's option bonus, is $15.76 million.