ESPN New York confirms free agent Dustin Keller "will be in play" for the Titans if they lose Jared Cook.

Free agent Dustin Keller says he would like to return to the Jets, but he hasn't heard from the team about a new deal.

"Yeah, I'd like to return," Keller said. "I have a lot of great friends on the team, and I've always thought of myself as a key piece of the offense there, but if I'm not there that's fine, too." Keller has only heard from new OC Marty Mornhinweg. He was once thought of as a candidate for the franchise tag, but that doesn't appear to be an option. Keller should be in high demand. He checks in as our No. 3 free-agent tight end behind Tony Gonzalez and Fred Davis.

Jets GM John Idzik was noncommittal when asked if the team would use the franchise tag.

The Jets are just under the salary cap after cutting a quartet of veterans on Tuesday, so there's not a lot of wiggle room to put a heavy, fully guaranteed salary on the books. Dustin Keller is the only real option, and it would come with about a $6 million price. The two sides have yet to meet, but they plan to do so some time this week.

The Jets and free agent Dustin Keller have yet to exchange contract proposals.

The sides are meeting at the Combine, but will be starting negotiations from scratch. The Jets would like to retain Keller, but beat writer Rich Cimini believes their tight salary-cap situation will preclude the franchise tag ($5.962 million) as a possibility. If Keller reaches the open market, the Jets are going to have an extremely difficult time being his top bidder.

The Jets are expected to meet with the player rep for free agent TE Dustin Keller this week.

Tons of informal meetings and negotiating will take place during the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week. The Jets want to retain Keller, but they probably can't afford it thanks to their dire salary cap situation. The $5.962 million franchise tender isn't an option and Keller is going to attract serious interest on the open market. He's out No. 3 available tight end, behind only Tony Gonzalez and Fred Davis.

Sources with "knowledge of the situation" tell CBS' Jason La Canfora, the Jets will be "hard-pressed" to re-sign impending free agents Dustin Keller and Shonn Greene.

The same is reportedly true of DE Mike DeVito. Former GM Mike Tannenbaum left the Jets in salary cap hell, so the news is hardly surprising. Retaining Keller is likely of far greater concern than Greene, but ESPN New York agrees with La Canfora's sources that he's likely on the way out. It's going to be a lean year for the Jets in 2013. Even though he's coming off an injury-prone and ineffective season, interest in the 28-year-old Keller should be strong on the open market.

ESPN New York's Rich Cimini said "someone will get a great bargain" on impending free agent Dustin Keller, but it "probably won't be the Jets."

Keller played in just eight games in 2012 as he battled hamstring and ankle injuries, so that's expected to affect his price on the open market this offseason. The Jets "probably" won't get the bargain because they'll likely have to slap the franchise tag on Keller to keep him. Keller said in late December that he is "100 percent" opposed to the franchise tag, too. He'll be highly sought after as a solid red zone option and willing blocker.

Dustin Keller (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 17 versus the Bills.

Keller won't even travel with the team to upper New York. After not missing a game in his previous four seasons, Keller was limited to just eight games in 2012. He'll finish the season with 28 catches for 317 yards and two touchdowns. Keller is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and has been mentioned as a franchise tag candidate.

Dustin Keller (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Week 17.

Jeff Cumberland will finish out the season as the Jets' starting tight end. Keller's contract year didn't go anything like he hoped it would, suffering a hamstring injury in the preseason and proving unable to stay off the shelf all year. He's made it clear publicly that he does not want to be franchise tagged this offseason. A new Jets GM will help determine Keller's 2013 whereabouts.

Dustin Keller "100 percent does not want" to be franchise tagged in the offseason.

"I signed a five year deal, that's what I agreed to. To make somebody play a one year deal to something they never agreed to is crazy to me. It's not legal in any other business, so it's still, it's just crazy to me. So no, I definitely don't want to be franchised," said Keller. Keller has played in just eight games this season, posting 317 yards and two touchdowns on 28 catches. The franchise tag figure for a tight end this upcoming offseason is $5.962 million. Keller and S LaRon Landry seem to be the most likely options for the Jets' franchise tag in 2013.