The Miami Dolphins have decided to place the franchise tender of $8.45 million on defensive tackle Randy Starks, per NFL.com.

The Dolphins had several other candidates to franchise that will now hit the free agent market, including tackle Jake Long, cornerback Sean Smith and receiver Brian Hartline.

Starks is finishing up the five-year, $21 million deal he signed with Miami in 2008 after he left the Tennessee Titans as an unrestricted free agent.

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Terry McCormick covers the Titans for TitanInsider.com