Packers to Pickett: tag -- you're it!

As alluded to here yesterday, and as finally done in fact, the Pack decided not to risk losing NT Ryan Pickett in free agency because they couldn't get a contract deal done. Instead, they placed the franchise tag on Pickett. That in effect keeps him off the free agent market. With the tag, the Packers can meet any other offer Pickett might receive and if they decide they don't want to match an offer they'll receive two first round draft picks as compensation.

The cost to the Packers for this tag, assuming that Pickett signs the tender, is just over $7 million for the season, more than double what Pickett received this last season. But clearly, the Packers value him and what he did to bolster the heart of the Packers' #1 run defense. GM Ted Thompson said in a statement: "Ryan has been a good teammate and productive player for us on the field and also a good representative of the Packers in the community. We look forward to having him be a part of our future."

You can read more about the Pickett tag here.

The Packers also signed S Derrick Martin to a two-year contract reportedly worth $1.9 million. While not so great in coverage this last year, Martin earned his stripes -- if not this contract renewal -- on special teams where he became one of the top performers.