49ers trade for kicker Zane Gonzalez

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1. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the 49ers sign Ryan Succop and let these two compete in camp. The one who doesn’t make the team could be on the P.S. for insurance.

   1. Old Coach
      For me, signing Gonzales is a head scratcher! But he is cheap and he provides vet insurance? I see the 9ers picking one of the top 3 kickers in the draft who will, IMO, be the 2023 starter. (Gonzales will be PS insurance).
      As for Ryan Succop, his 2022 salary was ~$4 Mil P/Y, Twice as much as Gonzales and the 9er have ~$6 Mil in salary cap space. They’ll need all of that to sign their draft picks.

      1. GEEP,
         Where else will Succop sign? Right now the only two teams without kickers are the 9ers and the Rams and the Rams are cutting costs. I could see the 9ers offering him a low ball offer with no guarantees then having Succop and Gonzalez battle it out at camp.

         1. OldCoach
            Q: “Where else will Succop sign?”
            A: I don’t know OC, my point is I don’t think the 9ers are interested in him. (Tight salary cap).
            * While I’m surprised the 9ers signed Gonzales, he’s cheap and provides competition, insurance, if the K they draft doesn’t work out. IMO, the 9ers will draft their starting kicker and Gonzales will be on the PS.

            Questions:
            * Will DE Drake Jackson and DT Kalia Davis have an impact this season?
            * Will Clelin Ferrell beat out Jackson for LDE, or is it the #2 position needed in the draft?
            * Should the 9ers trade up for a RT that has the potential to start this year? If so, would you move up for BYU OT Blake Freeland? IMO, the answer is yes!

            1. GEEP
               Question #1 Yes, I believe that both players will be integral parts of the D line rotation.
               Question #2 I think Ferrell will start and play the majority of the run downs while Jackson will play the majority of the passing downs. I Believe that Ferrell will also spell Bosa on some run downs. I believe that Jackson will end up playing more downs than Ferrell. So I wouldn’t say Ferrell beats out Jackson but they both play a lot (If Jackson develops his strength this offseason)
               Question #3 I really like Freeland and believe he may be there pick 99. If he isn’t I also like Tyler Steen at 99. I would not trade up other than a couple pick, whatever a 5th round pick would move us up.
               Freeland is a long term project, I don’t see him starting until 24 after he has put on 15 lbs. I think Steen could play by the 2nd half of next year. The 49ers lost many players and need most if not all of their picks
               Round3 RT
               Round3 DE
               Round3 S
               Round5 TE
               Round5 DE
               Round5 K
               Round6 OLB
               Round7 S
               Round7 TE
               Round& RB

               1. OldCoach
                  * RE Safety, 3Rd Rd: If I drafted a S in 3Rd Rd. it would be Daniel Scott, California. After blowing
                  up the Combine, he has moved up on most big boards to a late 3Rd — early 4th Round Pick.

                  * RE EDGE: 3Rd Rd choice is still DJ Johnson, DE/LB. Oregon. 6’4″ X 260, 40 = 4.49s, VT = 32″,
                  BJ = 110″, 3 cone = 7.33s. He benched 28 reps and his shuttle = 4.51s.
                  * Johnson has great closing burst and decent bend on the edge. His speed and athleticism lets him move well in space and laterally. He can also drop into coverage and defend the run.
                  * If you’re not familiar with him, watch some tape. He’s an athletic freak with a high risk, but also a very high reward.

                  1. Right now at S I am leaning Sydney Brown ill and Jordan Battle Bama at DE Zach Harrison Ohio St. Brenton Cox Fla. I will take a look at your guys. I am always hesitant about guys who move up the board because of their combine work out. The last safety that the 9ers drafted because of his combine was Tavarius Moore and we all know how that ended up.

2. OC, i had similar thoughts, Not necessarily Succop……..I was thinking a rookie…….but the more i think about it …..a vet makes sense.
   Gonzalez has zero guaranteed $ and we only gave up a conditional pick or pick swap. The condition likely involves him making the 53.
   Could be leverage towards Gould? Play for $2.5 or we’ll go with Gonzalez?

   1. The leverage angle makes sense except for the fact that the Niners have a reputation for acting ethically and on behalf of the player. Assuming that reputation is deserved, I don’t think they’d try to pressure a player to work for them.

      1. How is it unethical to gain leverage by trading for an insurance policy that you hope might also have an effect on a player to resign with you? Seeking leverage is not immoral.

         1. I think it comes down to one’s moral code.

      2. I agree that they didn’t sign him for any reason other than to be the kicker. Of course that doesn’t preclude them from finding someone better. He’ll definitely get competition from someone during training camp.

3. Unless the 9ers intend on keeping a KO specialist I think Gould is gone. They can’t consistently be giving teams the kind of starting position they were in the last 5 games or so.

4. We keep picking up players from IR….

   1. Doesn’t every player get injured? I don’t think his was serious.

   2. D, that was my first thought too. A kicker with an injury history……who once missed 4 kicks in a game.
      As to the ethical question…..all cards are face up on the table, so there is nothing unethical, shady or underhanded going on .

5. Right now to me he looks like a guy they want to try out to see if he has development potential. As someone here has mentioned, I think Old Coach, maybe he’ll end up on the PS.

6. Jack / OldCoach, AES, George, Anyone …Come on Felix, you willing to go out on a limb?
   MY UNDERSTANDING IS, THE FOLLOWING IS TRUE
   * According to the Atlantic, as of 02/24/2023 the 9ers have ~$6 Mil. salary cap space and will need it all to sign their draft picks.
   * The 9ers can rework (backload) CMC’s $12 Mil salary, but have backloaded several players contract already.
   * With the exception of the number one draft need (RT), the 9ers should draft the best player available.
   * The 9ers have 11 draft picks in 2023.
   QUESTIONS:
   1) Should the 9ers move up to take # 1 need, (RT)? (McGlinchey is gone and TW will be 35 Y/O).
   2 ) Do you agree / disagree? 9ers take BPA for #2 and #3 needs (EDGE and TE). If not, what position?
   3) Backup positions needed for competition: 2nd OT, K, S, 2nd TE, and QB

   1. GEEP,
      For my part, I don’t see any emergency needs on the team. RT, Safety and Edge should receive attention, but again, those aren’t desperate needs, imho. The chances of finding any opening day starters from the 3rd rd picks are a long shot.

      But because of a bus load of comp picks the 49ers are in a desirable position to package some of the 3rd and 6 rd draft picks to move into the 2nd rd for a player that can contribute on day one.

      I like former ND Edge, Isaiah Folsky if the 49ers want to go that route. If they prefer to go with a RT, there will be some good players to chose from in the 2nd rd.

7. After reading the bio on this guy, he sounds like a dead ringer for Mike Cofer 2.0

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