The 49ers announced Tuesday that they have placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on NT Aubrayo Franklin, who was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next month.
If Franklin receives a contract offer from another team, the 49ers can match it. If they dont, then they would receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.
Under the franchise tag, Franklin would make $7.003 million, the average salary of the top five highest-paid defensive tackles in the NFL.
Aubrayo has proven to be a valuable contributor to our defense, and we are looking forward to having him on our team going forward, 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan said in a statement released by the team. Although a contract extension has not been completed at this time, we will continue to have discussions with Aubrayo and his agent.
Franklin has 148 tackles, four sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles in his seven-year NFL career with the Ravens and 49ers.