**Mike Reiss** of ESPNBoston.com writes about the franchise tag being placed on Patriots' wide receiver Wes Welker.  The tag is estimated to be around $9.4 million and will restrict Welker from fully experiencing unrestricted free agency. The Patriots used the common "non-exclusive" tag, which means Welker can negotiate with other teams.  The Patriots would have the option of matching any offer.  If Welker were to sign elsewhere, the Patriots would receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.  Welker went to Twitter on Monday night, writing, "Glad that I will be a Patriot in 2012. and hopefully '13,'14,'15,'16,'17,'18 ..."

Karen Guregianof The Boston Herald writes about the Patriots task of working on a longer-term deal for Wes Welker after the wideout had the franchise tag placed on him Monday.  Guregian argues that waiting to work out a deal for Welker "just launches the possibility of opening a can of worms that no one wants to see, such as Welker holding out through offseason camps, training camp and beyond."  To this point, there has been no indication that negotiations are headed in that direction. 

**Ricky Doyle** of NESN.com writes about a report from Fox Sports' Jay Glazer that states former Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss will work out for the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday.  With the possibility of the Saints losing both Marques Colston and Robert Meachem to free agency, the need for a wide receiver is obvious.  Doyle writes, "It could all come down to whether Moss is able to prove he has as much left in the tank as he claims."

**Tom E. Curran** of CSNNE.com reports that free agent wide receiver Vincent Jackson is attracting a lot of attention in the AFC East.  The word out of San Diego is that the Buffalo Bills will look to make a move on Jackson once free agency opens.  "The Chargers can still work to get Jackson extended before free agency begins, of course," writes Curran. 

Pat Kirwan of CBSSports.com has the Patriots trading the 31st pick in the NFL Draft to the Steelers in exchange for Mike Wallace in his latest mock draft.  Kirwan's reasoning? "No one is sure if a team will go after Mike Wallace, but it is possible, and the Patriots have two first-round picks and plenty of salary cap space. Wallace is 26 and would be a great fit in the Patriots offense. The Steelers could select fast-rising (Stephen) Hill after his big combine to replace the loss of Wallace."