Monday's deadline to use the franchise or transition tags on impending veteran NFL free agents resulted in four additions to a list which already included Buffalo safety Jairus Byrd, Cincinnati defensive end Michael Johnson, Denver left tackle Ryan Clady and Indianapolis punter Pat McAfee.

Miami decided to go all in on defensive tackle Randy Starks, while the Chicago Bears locked in fellow interior presence Henry Melton. The Dallas Cowboys limited Anthony Spencer's options for a second straight year, and Kansas City made the most noise of the day, re-signing possible franchise targets Dwayne Bowe and Dustin Colquitt, before placing the tag on offensive lineman Branden Albert.

Under the franchise designation, players will earn the average of the top-five players at his position in 2013 or 120 percent of his salary from 2012, whichever is greater. They can all still work out long-term deals, however. The transition tag, which guarantees the average of the top-10 players at any position, wasn't used by anyone this time around.

As usual, though, the more interesting aspect of the deadline ended up being who didn't get tagged, repercussions that gave a little insight in to what certain teams are thinking as free agency gets set to begin on March 12.

When Miami tagged Starks, it meant that cornerback Sean Smith and left tackle Jake Long, a former No. 1 overall pick, will likely hit the open market.

Smith seems to be far more highly regarded outside the Miami organization and it's almost a fait accompli he'll be filing a change of address form by mid- March. Long, meanwhile, was once regarded as one of the premier players at one of the game's most important positions, but injury concerns and another potential huge outlay have the Dolphins contemplating life after Long.

After breaking the bank to re-sign quarterback Joe Flacco, the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens gave fellow 3-4 defensive teams around the league reason to lick their chops by passing on the ability to tag pass rushing outside linebacker Paul Kruger, as well as inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbee, two big keys in their championship run. Both players are just 27 and the kind of ascending talent teams will throw big money at in free agency.

The NFC champion San Francisco 49ers decided to let Dashon Goldson hear from other suitors and while Jim Harbaugh almost certainly wants his Pro Bowl safety back in the Bay Area, Goldson should command a huge payday, cause for concern for a player whose greatest attribute is run support, not coverage.

The same mentality evidently infiltrated Atlanta, Houston and North Jersey where the he Falcons decided to take their chances with the thumping William Moore, and the Texans let Glover Quin measure his worth. The Giants, meanwhile, voted against locking up Kenny Phillips.

Clearly, there is a dearth of coverage safeties around the NFL but giving up on difference makers because they aren't as well-rounded as clubs might like is probably not the prudent decision moving forward.

The tagging rules actually helped Dallas keep Spencer but hindered Minnesota's efforts to hang onto right tackle Phil Loadholt as well as Pro bowl fullback Jerome Felton.

The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Spencer for the second straight year, guaranteeing him the going rate for an elite outside linebacker even though new defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who is switching the 'Boys from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defensive alignment, has the pass-rushing threat penciled in at defensive end, a higher-paying position.