This year, as part of the new collective bargaining agreement, a second-round tender has been added. If a team places that tender on a RFA, the original team could match any offer or would receive a second-round pick in return.

The tender amounts are as follows:

Low tender -- $850,000
Second-round tender -- $1.3 million
First-round tender -- $1.85 million
First- and third-round tender -- $2.35 million

ANALYSIS: The Patriots have just a few restricted free agents, and the most notable is defensive back Randall Gay. Because Gay entered the league as an undrafted free agent, the Patriots would be rolling the dice by placing the low tender on him. That would mean that if another team signed Gay to an offer sheet -- and the Patriots didn't match -- the Patriots would not receive any draft-pick compensation. That is why it is likely Gay will receive the new second-round tender.