Welker plans to see how much he's worth on the open market before thinking about returning to the Patriots, according to ESPN. Last season, playing under the tag, he was paid $9.5 million.

The concern for outside teams is the fact Welker is 31, and they will be reluctant to pay too much over the long term, despite the fact he had 118 catches for 1,354 yards and six touchdowns in 2012. There are bigger free-agent wideout prizes in the Pittsburgh Steelers'Mike Wallace and Green Bay Packers' Greg Jennings. St. Louis Rams wideout Danny Amendola provides a cheaper alternative for a slot type. If he returns to the Pats, Welker should expect a deal in the $8 million range annually.