Eight players were designated non-exclusive franchise players before Monday's deadline, but all are permitted to field offers from other suitors in free agency.

Two offensive tackles, two defensvie tackles, a defensive end, linebacker, punter and safety were tagged before the 4 p.m. ET deadline. No player was named an exclusive franchise player, which would've prohibited other teams from talking to that player. Last offseason, the New Orleans Saints used the "exclusive" franchise tag to retain quarterback Drew Brees.

Free agency begins March 12, when all eight players named franchise players have limited unrestricted free agent rights.

They can visit with and field offer sheets from other teams.

However, the non-exclusive franchise designation is prohibitive in that it acts as a "refusal rights" option for their current team. The non-exclusive tag mandates that any team signing a franchise player must forfeit two first-round picks to his current team to complete the transaction.

The eight players who were tagged and the

Buffalo Bills Jairus Byrd S $6.002 million

Chicago Bears Henry Melton DT $8.45 million

Cincinnati Bengals Michael Johnson DE $11.175 million

Dallas Cowboys Anthony Spencer LB $8.358 million

Denver Broncos Ryan Clady OT $9.828 million

Indianapolis Colts Pat McAfee P $2.700 million

Kansas City Chiefs Branden Albert OT $9.828 million

Miami Dolphins Randy Starks DT $7.039 million