Corey Williams reportedly will be traded

Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Corey Williams will be traded to the Cleveland Browns, according to multiple media reports Thursday night and early this morning, including the Washington Post, Cleveland Plain Dealer and the NFL Network.

The Packers will receive a second-round draft choice from the Browns, which would be the 25th pick in Round 2 and the 56th overall choice.

Williams, 27, was set to become an unrestricted free agent this off-season, but the Packers placed the franchise tag on him last week which guaranteed a one-year salary of $6.363 million.

But the Packers weren't interested in making a long-term investment in Williams so they began actively shopping him this week.

The Browns will be required to sign Williams to a multiyear contract, and considering the state of the market, Williams will become a very rich man. Oakland re-signed Tommy Kelly to the largest contract ever for a defensive lineman (seven years for $50.5 million, including more than $18 million in guaranteed money). Williams won't make that much, but he should get a huge payday.

The Browns will not have draft picks in the first two rounds. They traded their first-round draft choice to Dallas last year for quarterback Brady Quinn.

The Packers will have seven total draft picks, including one in the first round (30th overall), two in the second, and one in the third, fourth, fifth and seventh rounds.

They traded their sixth-round pick to the New York Giants last year for running back Ryan Grant. It's possible the Packers will receive a compensatory pick prior to the draft.

Williams (6-4 and 320 pounds) is a likely candidate to play left end in the Browns' 3-4 defense. He collected 14 sacks the last two years for the Packers.

-- Press-Gazette