After being unable to strike gold on a long-term contract, San Francisco 49ers safety Dashon Goldson has signed his one-year franchise tender on Thursday, according to CSNBayArea.com.
“This is not meant to minimize the impact of Goldson, an undeniably talented player. But he is not in a great position of leverage,” GridironGrit.com’s Law Murray mentioned at the end of May. ”Besides the fact that there were others on the 49ers defense contributing to their improvement in the passing game, the 49ers boast enviable depth at safety currently.”
Photo Credit: 49ers.com
Entering the sixth year of his career, Goldson, 27, will make $6.212 million this season.
The 6-2, 200-pound former fourth-round selection (126th overall in 2007) out of Washington has missed just two starts over the last three seasons, collecting a combined 241 total tackles, four forced fumbles, 3.0 sacks and 11 interceptions.
Veterans reported to camp today and open practice on Friday. Goldson comes off the best year of his career in 2011, when he registered 67 tackles, one forced fumble and picked off six passes. He also made his first Pro Bowl berth last season.
“Goldson will eventually be met with a hard reality that the only way he would secure a lucrative long-term contract is to outperform his franchise tag salary,” Murray added. ”He’ll do that by making the same plays on the ball and becoming more reliable when not making the big play. An elite season from Goldson in a year the 49ers could challenge for the Lombardi Trophy (see: 49ers returning all starters on NFC’s best defense in 2011) will surely benefit both Goldson long-term and the 49ers in 2012.”
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