Dashon Goldson made it clear earlier this month he doesn't want to be franchise tagged by the San Francisco 49ers, and it appears he's going to get his way.
Two league sources told Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee that the 49ers do not plan to use the tag on their starting All-Pro safety, meaning Goldson will become a free agent next month.
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Goldson, 28, was franchised last offseason for $6.2 million. He tested the market in 2011 but wound up re-signing a one-year deal with the 49ers in the absence of a better offer. Goldson is two years older now, but coach Jim Harbaugh recently said the defender "deserved" a long-term contract.
That doesn't mean a new deal is on the way. General manager Trent Baalke possibly referred to Goldson at the NFL Scouting Combine when he told The Bee: "You can't pay everybody, and you certainly can't pay everybody if you're overpaying others."
If Goldson bolts, the 49ers could use one of their 14 picks in the draft on a safety class that earned high marks in Indianapolis.
If San Francisco declines to franchise Goldson, one possible target for the tag is backup tight end Delanie Walker, according to Matt Maiocco of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. The tight end tag would cost roughly $5.97 million, but anyone who's watched this offense understands how important Walker is to coordinator Greg Roman's scheme. Maiocco believes Walker also might be headed for a long-term deal with the team. We'll keep an eye on this.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
