The San Francisco 49ers have been one of the more successful teams in the NFL over the last decade or so, and one of the main reasons for that success has been thanks to a potent offense led by Kyle Shanahan.
But, there seems to be always one phase of the game that has eluded the 49ers in recent years: the kicking game. Jake Moody struggled, and a few of their other kickers in the last half-decade haven't panned out.
That is, until now. Eddy Pineiro has been revolutionary for the 49ers and has been key to the 49ers' success this season. Nick Wagoner of ESPN is urging the 49ers, amid this breakout season for Pineiro, to lock up their franchise kicker to a long-term deal.
49ers urged to extend Eddy Pineiro to long-term deal
"Coach Kyle Shanahan doesn't like having to worry about his kicker,' Wagoner writes, "and getting Pineiro signed beyond 2025 would likely allow the franchise to rest easy at the position."
Locking up Pineiro is a no-brainer for the 49ers at this point. They brought him in early this season, and while he missed his first kick - an extra-point - Pineiro has been perfect on all 25 of his field goals this season.
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What's made Pineiro even more impressive, and imperative for the 49ers to lock up long-term, is that he's a perfect 6-for-6 on field goal tries beyond 50 yards.
Instead of worrying about whether the 49ers have a kicker or not every season, locking up Pineiro to a long-term deal makes the most sense.
The 30-year-old journeyman kicker might've finally found a home in San Francisco, and the 49ers would do well to ensure he doesn't leave anytime soon.
Retaining Pineiro should be a priority for the 49ers this offseason, and Wagoner is urging Shanahan and John Lynch to sign the sixth-year kicker to a long-term deal.
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