Packers tag Williams, release Franks

The Green Bay Packers placed a franchise tag on defensive tackle Corey Williams, keeping him away from the unrestricted free agent market. 

As a franchise player, Williams is still free to negotiate with other teams in the NFL, but if a team signs him to a deal and the Packers don't match the offer, that team must forfeit two first-round draft picks to the Packers.

Using the franchise tag on Williams also means the Packers will have to pay him more than $6.3-million this season.  That figure represents the average salary cap figure last year of the top five players at his position. 

On the same day that the Packers tagged Williams, they released veteran tight end Bubba Franks (pictured).

Franks lost his starting job to Donald Lee last season.  His receptions dropped from 34 in 2004 to 18 in 2007.  Since 2004, Franks missed 14 games due to injuries.

He was scheduled to receive a $500,000 roster bonus and a base salary of $3-million this season.