Earlier this week, word was that it was “no certainty” that the 49ers used their franchise tag on safety Dashon Goldson for the second straight season.
With a little more than a week to go before the decision must be made, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com is reporting that indications are that the 49ers will pass on using the tag. Citing multiple league sources, Maiocco says that the 49ers are “leaning” in that direction. General Manager Trent Baalke was predictably noncommittal this week.
“Whether we use the tag or not, I really don’t know at this point. I think I do know, but I’m not willing to share it at this time,” Baalke said.
Tagging Goldson would cost the team $7.44 million, which could also limit their ability to hold onto Alex Smith’s $8.5 million salary long enough to trade it once March 12 rolls around. With talks on a long-term deal not producing much optimism, there’s a good chance that Goldson will be hitting the open market off the best season of his career.
That doesn’t mean he won’t wind up back with the 49ers, but it certainly raises the likelihood that Goldson will strike gold somewhere else.