Carolina Panthers place franchise tag on Ryan Kalil

The Carolina Panthers will reportedly make their Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil one of the highest paid offensive linemen in football, according to Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network.

The Pnathers slapped the franchise tag on the fourth-year pro. Kalil is one of the NFL's best centers and will make around $10 million in 2011.

The Panthers' decision to franchise Kalil means defensive end Charles Johnson and running back DeAngelo Williams will both become free agents.