Tuesday afternoon marked the deadline for teams to designate franchise or transition players ahead of this year’s free agency period. Teams can only use one tag on one veteran free agent per season.

A franchise player can be either exclusive or non-exclusive, based on the salary offer from the club.

The Seattle Seahawks opted once again not to use either tag this season; they haven’t designated a player since kicker Olindo Mare in 2010.

Only five players were designated with the franchise tag for 2018: Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence, Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, Rams safety Lamarcus Joyner, Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry and Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell, who was the only one of the five tagged as an exclusive franchise player.

Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller was the lone player to receive the transition tag this season.

The signing period for franchise players begins March 14 at 1 p.m. PT (the official start of free agency) and ends on Tuesday, Nov. 13.

Prior to Tuesday’s deadline, there had been much speculation regarding the Seahawks’ intent to tag defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson. Both coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider have expressed interest in signing Richardson to a new deal. Schneider confirmed at the NFL Scouting Combine the team has had discussions with Richardson.