The 49ers traded for a new kicker

So far this offseason, the San Francisco 49ers have made significant changes on the defensive side of football.

Although they lost some games, like defensive back Jimmie Ward and defensive linemen Samson Ebukam and Azeez Al-Shaair, they brought a big weapon in the form of former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. .

The team also decided not to offer free agent kicker Robbie Gould a new contract, and they may have found a replacement.

On Friday, he was traded for Zane Gonzalez of the Carolina Panthers.

THE #Panthers traded kicker Zane Gonzalez to the #49ersby his agent @MikeMcCartney7

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 24, 2023

Gonzalez, 27, was a seventh-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2017, and he made 90.9% of his field goal attempts in the 2021 season while being perfect on field goal attempts. inside 50 meters.

However, he missed all of last season with a quad injury.

Gould has reportedly asked for a new contract, and the 49ers have no real interest in giving the 40-year-old the deal he wants.

They need to give reigning Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa a hefty contract extension, and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards for the first time in 2022, could be next.

Paying both what they deserve will mean cutting costs elsewhere, especially with Hargrave, who made the Pro Bowl in 2021 and had another strong season in 2022.

Gould has spent the past six seasons in San Francisco, and in 2018, the 18-year-old veteran led the NFL with a 97.1% field goal accuracy rate.

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