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As we move forward into the 2012 offseason, the 49ers have plenty of free agents to deal with in the coming months. One of the most prominent 49ers free agents is Pro Bowl cornerback Carlos Rogers. After hanging around free agency for a while this past offseason, Rogers signed a one year deal with the 49ers.
There had been question marks about his hands during his time with the Washington Redskins, but in one season with the 49ers he put it all together and had his best season as a pro. He struggled yesterday in the first half against Victor Cruz, but he bounced back with a solid second half and capped off a fantastic year.
Rogers spoke with the media today and made it very clear that he wants to return to the 49ers with a long term contract. He went so far as to say he would take a team discount because of how much he enjoys the organization. It sounds like the 49ers acknowledged they wouldn't necessarily be able to match a highest offer given the market for strong cornerbacks, but Rogers says he is not simply intent on taking the highest offer.
Free agency gets going on March 13, but the 49ers get exclusive negotiating rights until then. The 49ers have some solid young talent at cornerback, but locking up Rogers for the next few years would be a solid step for this team. He turns 31 before the start of next season, but he appears to still have several solid years in front of him.
The 49ers also have the opportunity to place the franchise tag on Rogers if needed, but I would not be surprised if they elected to use that on Dashon Goldson. The 49ers have numerous free agents so they'll need to work on getting the right guys at the right contracts. I'm doing a bit of research on cap numbers and the like and will hopefully have that available in the next day or two.