The New England Patriots are likely to place the franchise tag on wide receiver Wes Welker and that the receiver would likely hold out.

Greg Bedard of the Boston Herald appeared on a radio show and said of the Welker contract situation, “He’s going to be tagged, that I know for pretty much certain. If they don’t, he’s going to sign with the Jets and they’re going to to to try and cover him twice a year, or the Dolphins, they want him back. I don’t see why things would change now, but the way it stood before the Super Bowl, they’re going to tag him.”

The Patriots are worried that Welker could sit out half the season, much like lineman Logan Mankins did in 2010.

Welker has been one of the more dependable receivers in the NFL, catching 100 or more passes in four of the past five seasons with the Patriots. Welker caught an NFL high 122 receptions last season.