Fitzgerald Cecilio

New England Patriots Wide Receiver Wes Walker
New England Patriots WR Wes Welker

Wide receiver Wes Welker may not get a long-term contract extension he is expecting from the New England Patriots as deadline for franchise-tagged players nears.

A source close to the wide receiver said recent dialogue between the two sides wasn't active and it would be a surprise if an extension was reached before the 4 p.m. ET deadline.

The 31-year-old Welker, who signed his franchise tender, will earn $9.5 million next season if a deal is not reached.

After this season, Welker would be scheduled for unrestricted free agency but the Patriots could once again place the franchise tag on him for $11.4 million.

But with quarterback Tom Brady's 2013 cap charge scheduled to come in at around $22 million, the depth-driven Patriots could not allot 25 percent of their salary cap to two players.

If that happens, then Welker could hit the free agent market, potentially making 2012 his final season with the Patriots.

The framework of the deal would be no problem as the two sides have been negotiating since last season and could possibly beat Monday's deadline.

Welker finished with a career-high 1,569 receiving yards and nine touchdown receptions in 2011, where the 5-foot-9, 185-pound receiver played out the final season of the five-year deal he signed with the Patriots after he was acquired in a trade from the Miami Dolphins.

In123 career games with the Dolphins and Patriots, Welker has 650 receptions for 7,226 yards and 32 touchdowns.

While Welker waits anxiously, other franchise-tagged players such as quarterback Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and safety Tyvon Branch of the Oakland Raiders have reached fresh long-term deals with their respective teams recently.

Branch agreed to a $26.6 million contract to play for four more years with the Raiders while Brees opted to stay with the Saints for five years in exchange for a $100 million contract, making him the highest paid player in the NFL.

Patriots Standing Pat: Long-Term Deal for Wes Welker Unlikely - NFL 2012