Although the New England Patriots did not use their franchise tag on Logan Mankins on Thursday, the first day teams were allowed to do so, Mankins will "definitely be tagged during the 14-day window," according to a report by Ian Rapoport in the Boston Herald.
Teams have until Feb. 24 to use their franchise tag, and Rapoport indicated that the Patriots could place it on Mankins as soon as Friday.
Assuming he is indeed tagged, Mankins would earn around $10.51 million for 2011 (the average of the top five players at his position last season). But he has made it clear he wants a long-term deal (which could still come after the Pats franchise him), saying he "wouldn't be happy about that, if that's what they chose to do, to be dealt that kind of hand."
Of course though, if the CBS expires on Mar. 4, then none of this will matter, says the NFLPA.