Free Agent S Goldson Leaves 49ers For 5-Year, $41M Deal With Tampa Bay
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) -- Free agent safety Dashon Goldson signed a $41.25 million, five-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday.
Goldson receives $8.25 million per year and $22 million in guaranteed money, a person with knowledge of the contract said, speaking on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the terms weren't announced. Goldson was expected to be introduced later Wednesday at team headquarters.
Goldson spent the past two seasons on one-year contracts with the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers, including last year with the franchise tag for $6.2 million. Goldson made it clear he sought a long-term deal for his future security, and he got it across the country with the Bucs.
The 28-year-old Goldson, a two-time Pro Bowler, had 69 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble for San Francisco last year in his sixth NFL season.
Tampa Bay is counting on the addition of Goldson to boost its defense and help a team that finished 7-9 last season -- with three more wins than the Bucs had in 2011. The Bucs were last in the NFL defending the pass in 2012, and haven't re-signed 16-year veteran defensive back Ronde Barber.
One of coach Greg Schiano's top offseason priorities was upgrading the team's pass defense.
While 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said two days after a 34-31 Super Bowl loss to Baltimore that bringing Goldson back was a top priority, San Francisco had already begun to move on Wednesday as free agent Charles Woodson met with the team.
Goldson had a career-best six interceptions during the 2011 season, when the 49ers ended a franchise-worst stretch of eight years without a playoff berth or winning record. In the postseason, Goldson has 47 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.
"Big ups to my boy (at)thehawk38," 49ers linebacker Larry Grant posted on Twitter. "Man it's definitely well deserved and a long time coming folks. Congrats to you my boy."
Added San Francisco safety Donte Whitner: "Congrats to my bro (at)thehawk38 on his new deal with Tampa! You will be missed."
Goldson was a fourth-round draft pick by the 49ers in 2007 out of Washington. He became a starter for the 49ers in '09.
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