Free agency may not start for another month, but today marks the first real transactions of the 2013 off-season, as teams begin applying their franchise tags to vested free agents, and superstars. Some organizations are looking to milk one more year, while others are hoping to buy enough time to hammer out long term deals. The Carolina Panthers are no strangers to the franchise tag, but this year it would be stunning to hear anything out of Charlotte.

Unlike past years, there's not a single player set to hit free agency worth of retention to the degree of using the expensive, one-year tag. If you've forgotten who the outgoing free agents are, here's a list:

Derek Anderson QB
Antwan Applewhite DE
Gary Barnidge TE
Richie Brockel RB
Dwan Edwards DT
Ben Hartsock TE
Sherrod Martin S
Captain Munnerlyn CB
Louis Murphy WR
Andre Neblett DT
Nate Ness S
Jason Phillips LB
Mike Pollak G
Jordan Senn LB

Rich with depth players, and little more -- everything will be quiet today. Looking around the league there are a few franchise tag situations to watch. Don't ask me why the NFL Network keep predicting Mike Wallace to the Panthers, but they are. Unless they know something about the cap situation we don't, there's simply no money for the talented Steelers' receiver.

Given his skill-set, he'd be near-perfect in Carolina. For all the small receivers that get compared to Steve Smith, only Mike Wallace walks the walk. A true 1,000 yard receiver with deep play potential, the idea of adding him as a weapon for Cam Newton is salivating -- but it looks impossible due to the cap situation. It's expected that Wallace is looking for a deal similar to Vincent Jackson's 5 year, $55-million contract, which the Panthers can't afford.

A lot of the talk over the last month has surrounded Jordan Gross, and what his role is moving forward. The stalwart left tackle carries a huge salary figure, but his protection (even as he gets older) is simply too valuable to part with. In a dream world the team would have the money for Miami Dolphins' left tackle Jake Long, who some believe will not be tagged today -- this isn't a dream world.

Keep an eye on other organizations today, but take it all with a grain of salt. With too many needs, and no money -- there's little reason to believe the Panthers will be free agent players until 2015.