The San Francisco 49ers made sure Robbie Gould would remain with the team by using the non-exclusive franchise tag on the veteran kicker on Tuesday. The move will ensure Gould remains with the 49ers in 2019 on a one-year deal. General manager John Lynch, however, would like to have him around longer.
Lynch, along with the 49ers front office, scouts, and coaches, is in Indianapolis this week for the NFL Scouting Combine. He stepped up to the podium on Thursday and was asked about Gould.
"He makes a lot of kicks," Lynch said. "He's solid as a rock. We've been working on [a new deal]. I don't want to negotiate in public. I don't ever like doing that, but I can tell you that we are huge fans of Robbie Gould. He's been as consistent as they come. I've known Robbie for a long time, and I knew that about him.
"We're very hopeful. We did put the franchise tag on him but (are) very hopeful that we continue talking and try to come to an agreement to keep him around for a while."
The 49ers would have had until the start of the new league year on March 13 to negotiate a long-term deal with Gould had the team not used the franchise tag. After that, he would have become a free agent.
Now, Lynch and company can continue to negotiate until July 15. After that, Gould will have to play for the 49ers on his one-year deal worth about $5 million.
"We had hoped to get a deal done, and I think Robbie did, as well," Lynch continued. "We weren't able to do that, so at that point, that decision (to use the franchise tag) became very easy for us."
Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Wednesday what Gould has meant to him and the 49ers since the kicker signed a two-year deal with the team on March 9, 2017.
"Unfortunately, we haven't been a great team these last two years," Shanahan said. "He's had to make a bunch of game-winning field goals. But I've been calling plays long enough (to know) that it's very tough when you get to that 30-yard line [if] you don't believe the kicker's going to make it, and it takes [kickers] a while to earn that belief. Every time we get there, I never think we're going to miss it. It's a very good feeling to have as a play caller, as a coach, and that's something Robbie has given us for two years."