Decision day for tags

IF THE REDSKINS decide to place the franchise tag on quarterback Kirk Cousins, it will cost them $19.95 million for 2016 under the values agreed upon by the NFL and the players' union.

Cousins is one of the more high-profile players whose contracts have expired, and quarterbacks carry the biggest tag numbers.

The franchise designation is worth the average of the top five salaries at a player's position or 120 percent of the value of his 2015 salary, whichever is higher. Teams secure the rights to continue negotiations with that player even as the league's free agency period begins, which this year is March 9.

Teams have until 4 p.m. Tuesday to use the franchise or transition tag on a scheduled free agent. The salary cap for next season is $155.27 million, an increase of about $12 million per team from 2015.

The next most expensive position for a franchise tag is defensive end at $15.7 million, according to numbers made official Monday. Wide receivers would cost just under $14.6 million, followed by linebackers ($14.1 million), cornerbacks (just under $14 million) and offensive linemen ($13.7 million).

Defensive tackles ($13.6 million), running backs ($11.78 million), safeties ($10.8 million), tight ends ($9.1 million) and punters/kickers ($4.57 million) follow.

The Jets will be placing the franchise tag on defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, according to multiple media reports. The 2011 first-round pick out of Temple is coming off his best statistical season, finishing with a career-high 12 sacks. He's also rehabbing from a broken right leg suffered in a Week 17 loss to Buffalo.

Baltimore has tagged kicker Justin Tucker and Chicago tagged wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. Another top player whose contract is up and is likely to get franchise tagged is linebacker Von Miller, the Super Bowl MVP for Denver.

Transition tag numbers call for quarterbacks to receive $17.696 million, followed by defensive ends at $12.734 million. A transition tag allows the player to negotiate with other teams, but his current club has the right of first refusal to match any offer.

Other transition tags: wide receiver, $12.268 million; linebacker, $11.925 million; cornerback, $11.913 million; offensive linemen, $11.902 million; defensive tackle, $10.875 million; running back, $9.647 million; safety, $9.116 million; tight end, $7.713 million; and punter/kicker, $4.123 million.

* Tom Brady reportedly has agreed to a two-year contract extension with the New England Patriots. The deal will significantly lessen Brady's salary-cap hit for 2016, which would have been about $15 million. He was due to make $9 million next season, plus a $6 million bonus, and $10 million in salary in 2017. Brady, 38, has said he plans to play well into his 40s.

* Oakland signed punter Marquette King to a five-year, $16.5 million contract extension.

* New Orleans formally released Marques Colston, the franchise's career receiving leader. Colston, 32, missed the last two games of the season with a chest injury and the Saints cited "failed physical" in his release. Cutting him will provide more than $3 million in salary-cap relief.

* Houston Texans wide receiver Jaelen Strong has been arrested for marijuana possession, police in the Phoenix suburb of Scottsdale said. Strong, a former Arizona State standout from Philadelphia, was taken into custody late Sunday and booked into the Scottsdale City Jail before being released later.

Police said Strong was a passenger in a Maserati that was stopped just before midnight when officers noticed the luxury car didn't have a visible license plate. Officers said they detected the strong odor of marijuana coming from the inside of the vehicle.

Police said Strong admitted he was in possession of some marijuana, didn't have a medical marijuana card and gave officers a cigar package containing three marijuana cigarettes.

* David Douglas, a former offensive lineman who played five seasons in the NFL for Cincinnati and New England, died of brain cancer Saturday at home in Maryville, Tenn. He was 52.