In his seventh NFL season, 49ers nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin has become one of the best nose tackles in the league.
And he’ll be paid that way come 2010, one way or the other.
According to John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle, the 49ers plan to use the franchise tag on Franklin, who is eligible for free agency after the 2009 season.
To do so, the Niners would be required to tender to Franklin a one-year contract with a base salary equal to the average compensation paid in 2009 to the five highest-paid defensive tackles in the NFL.
Franklin came to San Fran in 2007, as a free agent from the Ravens, who acquired him in the fifth round of the 2003 draft. The draw from Baltimore to San Fran was former 49ers coach and former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. Now the defensive coordinator of the Broncos, Nolan could have designs on bringing Franklin to Denver, if he were to hit the market.
Per NFLPA records, Franklin currently is earning a base salary of $2 million in the final year of his current contract. For defensive tackles, the franchise tender in 2009, based on 2008 compensation, was $6.058 million.