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Pats haven't used franchise tag much, which should continue in '18

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- One of the first significant dates of the NFL offseason comes this week, as Tuesday marks the first day clubs can place the franchise or transition tag on players scheduled for unrestricted free agency. This is expected to pass without the New England Patriots using the tag.

Their top candidate, left tackle Nate Solder, cannot be assigned the tag based on the terms of the extension he signed in 2015. Had that been an option, perhaps the Patriots would have considered the projected $14.1 million tag for Solder.

Elsewhere, while the Patriots seemingly would like to keep running backs Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead, the idea of doing so on the projected franchise tag of $11.