NFL teams have until Thursday at 4 p.m. EST to designate their unrestricted free agents as franchise or transition players, which gives them the right of compensation or first refusal.

The Eagles have been unable to reach a multi-year agreement with Trotter, forcing them to use a franchise player designation.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Trotter has led the Eagles in tackles each of the last three years. At 25 years of age, Trotter would have been a hot commodity on the free agent market if not restricted by the tag.

Franchise players must be offered a minimum of the average of the top-five salaries at their position or a 20-percent salary increase, whichever is greater. But the original club can match any offer and retain the player, or receive two first-round draft choices as compensation if it decides not to match.

The Kansas City Chiefs must decide whether to place a franchise designation on Gonzalez, a Pro Bowler each of the last three years, and the St. Louis Rams may slap a tag on Fletcher, the team leader in tackles the last three seasons.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have never used either a franchise or transition designation on free agents, but are hoping to re-sign Pro Bowl linebacker Jason Gildon to a multi-year contract.

The New York Jets, who lost three starters -- tackle Ryan Young and cornerbacks Aaron Glenn and Marcus Coleman -- in Monday's expansion draft to ease their salary cap burden a bit are trying to re-sign free agent left tackle Jason Fabini to a multi-year deal.