Dashon Goldson: Interested in Playing for Bengals

November 25, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers free safety Dashon Goldson (38) against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

For the past few years the Bengals have had a problem at safety. Reggie Nelson is a good enough option at safety, but opposite him has been a black hole of safety play. If you look at the outstanding list of people who have played there you come up with Chris Crocker, Nate Clements, Taylor Mays and Jeromy Miles. It is arguably the biggest weakness on the Bengals defense.

If you are a Bengals fan you remember a few years ago when you thought you were getting a guy to play opposite Nelson. What happened? He ended up not signing with the Bengals and going to the 49ers. His name was Donte Whitner. Now the Bengals have a chance to get that safety they have been wanting, this time taking him from the 49ers.

In an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio Goldson said that he would be interested in playing for the Bengals next year. Goldson is an unrestricted free agent this year. This past year he had 69 tackles to go along with 3 interceptions and 11 passes defensed. In 2011 he had 67 tackles with 6 interceptions and 9 passes defensed. In 2011 and 2012 Goldson made the Pro Bowl and in 2012 he was named an All Pro.

Now the question the Bengals have to ask is do you want to spend the kind of money that Goldson, who is 28, is going to require to bring in or would you rather draft a safety high in the draft and go with the potential of a young guy. There is a good crop of safeties in this draft starting with Kenny Vaccaro at the top.

Goldson has reportedly been asking for around 8 million a year the last couple of years from San Fransisco. One would have to think that number isn’t going to go down after being named to an All Pro team. However Goldson is a proven commodity that you know will bring immediate help to the Bengals secondary and defense in general, which boasts one of the best defensive lines in the NFL.

So Bengals fans, give me your opinions. Would you rather pay 8 million for a proven commodity in Goldson and use that draft pick elsewhere or would you rather save the money and roll the dice with a rookie?

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