By Tim Graham
The franchise tag the Buffalo Bills placed on safety Jairus Byrd is a non-exclusive, which makes a difference in what could happen next.
Clubs have the choice of designating their franchise tag as "exclusive" or "non-exclusive."
An exclusive franchise tag prevents other teams from negotiating with that player, essentially guaranteeing he will return to his original team.
A non-exclusive franchise tag allows the player to negotiate with other teams and sign an offer sheet. If that occurs, then the original team has the option to match the offer sheet and keep the player.
If the original club chooses not to match the offer sheet, then it receives two first-round draft choices as compensation from the player's new team.
So it's still possible for Byrd to play elsewhere in 2013.
tagged
2013 free agency | Jairus Byrd
