Saints’ Graham, Jets’ Folk Franchised

Unable to work out a contract, the New Orleans Saints have placed the franchise tag on one of their best offensive weapons.

Tight end Jimmy Graham has received the franchise tag after leading the Saints with 86 receptions, 1,215 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns.

He has topped the Saints in catches in each of the past three seasons, while leading the club in yards receiving and touchdowns in two of the last three years.

Barring a holdout, Graham will almost certainly play for New Orleans next season for no less than the tight end franchise tag of $7.04 million. The move was expected as the two sides attempt to work out a long-term deal.

In other NFL news:

— Philadelphia Eagles receiver Jeremy Maclin has agreed on a one-year contract, preventing him from becoming a free agent next month. Maclin missed the entire 2013 season after tearing his right ACL in training camp. He's one of eight receivers in NFL history to have at least 55 catches and 750 yards in each of his first four seasons in the league.

— The New York Jets have placed the franchise tag on kicker Nick Folk after he had perhaps the best season of his seven-year NFL career. Folk made $780,000 last season, but the franchise tag estimate for kickers is about $3.4 million for this year. Folk made 33 of 36 field-goal attempts last season, including three winning kicks.

— Kicker Graham Gano (guh-NOH') has agreed to a new four-year contract with Carolina. The 26-year-old converted 24 of 27 field goal attempts last season while helping the team to a 12-4 record and the NFC South title.

— The Panthers have put the franchise tag on defensive end Greg Hardy, who tied the franchise record with 15 sacks last season. He'll make $12.45 million in 2013.

— The Baltimore Ravens and tight end Dennis Pitta have reached agreement on a five-year contract. Pitta missed most of 2013 while recovering from a dislocated and fractured hip. He had 61 catches for 669 yards and seven touchdowns during the 2012 regular season and then added 14 catches for 163 yards and three touchdowns in the playoffs in helping the Ravens win the Super Bowl.

— Super Bowl champ Seattle has released wide receiver Sidney Rice and defensive end Red Bryant, giving the Seahawks additional salary cap space as free agency approaches. Seattle should save more than $12 million in salary cap space with the moves.

— The NFL's salary cap for this season has been set at $133 million, the highest amount in league history. Each team must be compliant with the cap number by March 11, when the league's free agency period begins. The cap is up from $123 million last season and surpasses the previous high of $127,997,000 in 2009.