Redskins trade for Dashon Goldson

ByPat Yasinskas ESPN logo
Friday, April 3, 2015

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have traded safety Dashon Goldson to the Washington Redskins for a sixth-round draft pick in 2016.

Goldson began his career with the San Francisco 49ers, and was selected to the Pro Bowl following the 2011 and 2012 seasons. The Bucs signed Goldson to a five-year, $41 million contract in 2013, but he never quite lived up to his billing with Tampa Bay, which also sent a 2016 seventh-round draft pick to the Redskins in the deal.

Goldson issued a series of statements on Twitter to fans of both the Bucs and Redskins.

"To Buc Nation, I'm sorry things didn't workout the way we both wanted them to," Goldson said. "... I've learned a lot in the 2 yrs spent there and it has been an honor to be part of the Buc nation, to play for the buccaneers and share my time with the community."

"Now to my new team, the Washington Redskins. I want you all to kno how excited my family and I are to be part of this strong organization. Ive been a fan of the team for awhile. ... This is gonna be a fun and exciting ride. ... I will bring an attitude for sure to this defense. With the experience and knowledge Ive accumulated throughout I will do everything to make those better around me. My goal will be for us to have the same heartbeat as a team and ESP as a defense cuz that's where it starts."

Goldson was fined more than $150,000 with the Bucs in 2013 and drew two one-game suspensions for helmet-to-helmet hits -- against Darren Sproles and Roddy White.

Overall, Goldson, 30, has been fined an NFL-high eight times since the start of the 2012 season for on-field incidents and his $252,000 in fines is more than any other NFL player during that time frame.

In 2014, Lovie Smith took over as the head coach, and Goldson wasn't a great fit in the Tampa 2 defense. In his two seasons in Tampa Bay, Goldson had 151 tackles and only one interception.

The Bucs already have a replacement for Goldson as they signed former Chicago safety Chris Conte in March.

A source told ESPN that the Buccaneers will save $4 million in salary-cap space with this trade, but they are still responsible for the other $4 million, which was guaranteed.

Goldson is the 10th former Pro Bowler traded this offseason, among them LeSean McCoy, Brandon Marshall and Jimmy Graham.

ESPN NFL Insiders Adam Schefter and Adam Caplan contributed to this report.

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