Key 49ers starters vaulted into free agency
Four years ago, Robbie Gould’s exit strategy was blocked when the 49ers used their franchise tag on the veteran kicker.
Tuesday, Gould avoided a repeat scenario and is heading for
free agency.
The 49ers did not place the franchise tag on any free agent ahead of Tuesday’s 1 p.m. deadline, a team source confirmed.
Gould, 40, made news over the weekend as reports surfaced that he planned to enter free agency with the intent of kicking for another franchise next season.
Among those slated to join Gould in free agency are a slew of starters from last season’s NFC runnerup squad.
Those include quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, right tackle Mike McGlinchey,
defensive back Jimmie Ward, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, safety Tashaun Gipson Sr., center Jake Brendel, guard Daniel Brunskill, cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, and defensive linemen Samson Ebukam, Charles Omenihu and Hassan Ridgeway.
Garoppolo, 31, could not be franchise tagged because of a clause he asked for in taking a pay cut before last season. He missed the final eight games with a foot fracture.
Unrestricted free agents are eligible Monday to commence talks with other teams. Contracts and trades cannot become official until Wednesday, March 15 at 1 p.m., although the 49ers can re-sign their own free agents before then.
Gould is the only player to draw the 49ers’ franchise tag since general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan arrived in 2017. Tagged players in previous regimes: Steve Young (1993), Terrell Owens (1999), Julian Peterson (2004-05), Aubrayo Franklin (2010) and Dashon Goldson (2012).