The San Francisco 49ers have made a trade for kicker Zane Gonzalez. The team was in need of a kicker, with Robbie Gould being a free agent. Despite the idea that the team would draft, they traded instead. Here are details on the trade for Zane Gonzalez and why.
49ers Trade for Zane Gonzalez
The news of the trade was by Gonzalez’s agent, Mike McCartney, on Twitter. This came as a surprise, and not many expected the 49ers to make a trade for a player. Gonzalez was most recently with the Carolina Panthers. It was later announced by Tom Pelissero on Twitter that the two teams will swap picks in 2025. Not only is it a surprise that the 49ers made a trade, but it was previously rumored that Gonzalez would be released by Carolina.
Former Cleveland Browns kicker Zane Gonzalez -Shanna Lockwood/USA TODAY Sports
This news regarding the trade comes after a debate on social media on if the 49ers would retain Robbie Gould in free agency. Gould spent six years with the team and was notably reliable. The speculation was that the team would draft a kicker as opposed to picking up a free agent or trading for one. The day before the Panthers traded Gonzalez, they signed kicker Eddy Pineiro. It can be assumed that is a factor as to why the 49ers called Carolina for a new kicker.
Gonzalez has been in the league since 2017, when he was picked in the 7th round of the NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns. In 2022, Gonzalez did not play in a game. In the 2021 season, he had a 90.9 field goal percentage, making 20 out of 22, according to ESPN.
Aside from the Browns and the Panthers, Gonzalez has also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals. In his career, the kicker has about an 80% field goal rate. Something that is reliable, but the team would want better. Still, Gonzalez may be the cheap veteran they were looking for.
Former Cardinals Kicker Zane Gonzalez – Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Why Zane Gonzalez?
Former 49ers kicker Robbie Gould was asking to be among the highest-paid kickers. The team would not be able to afford him, only having around six million in cap space left. The assumption was then that they would look to the 2023 NFL Draft. Perhaps the team was not comfortable using a rookie who did not have any NFL experience while the team was in the hunt for a Super Bowl. There is also a solid chance they will still take a kicker late in the draft or as an undrafted free agent. That way, if Gonzalez does not work out, they have someone else.
According to David Lombardi on Twitter, the kicker will be just a $1.465 million cap hit this year. There is also reportedly no guaranteed money. This is much cheaper than bringing back Gould would have been, but there is still a risk. A fear with Gonzalez is that he has not played since 2021 due to a quad injury. When healthy, he was accurate, but what matters is being on the field. While he is likely healthy now, it can be expected that they will still bring in a rookie to compete.
The pick that the 49ers are sending is a conditional late-rounder in 2025. This is a smart choice by San Francisco, with his quad injury being a possible liability. The team, as of now, still has all 11 draft picks. It is likely some late-round picks will be traded, but most likely not until the day of the draft. The 49ers did not have to give up much for a kicker, and signing Zane Gonzalez is a safe move for the team, which can still look to the draft.
