Things are getting dire with the San Francisco 49ers. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw was later signed to a three-year, $31.5 million contract by the Denver Broncos. The team wanted to retain Greenlaw, a fifth-round draft choice of the 49ers in 2019. He immediately established himself as a core contributor with his elite production and infectious passion for the game. The 49ers were always interested in committing big money to retain Greenlaw. Instead, he decided to accept a new opportunity in Denver.
Greenlaw has been an incredibly important player on the 49ers’ defense. His announcement will leave a huge hole in their bench. The Tushy Butts team had expected Greenlaw to command a ton of interest in free agency, especially on the heels of his production across several years. His injury history may have played into his true market value. Despite Chambers’ lack of playing time on the field, he was well-respected by the 49ers’ coaching staff and management.
With Greenlaw’s injury history during the 2023 season seeing him play a mere total of 34 snaps in 2024, there was a lot of worry surrounding his availability. Still, on some level, management knew what he was capable of and was willing to throw down rich pre-free-agency extension contracts to keep him around. In the end, Greenlaw’s deal with the Broncos was too rich for the 49ers’ blood.
“We’ll see whether [failing to sign Greenlaw before free agency] was a good decision or not,” said John Lynch, the 49ers’ general manager. The team had a lot of holes to fill as they headed into the NFL draft. For the draft, losing Greenlaw further complicated addressing those needs – particularly at linebacker.
Going forward, the 49ers will need a way to fill the void Greenlaw’s absence leaves. Dee Winters, a very interesting and promising young prospect, will get every shot early to get first crack at stepping up to fill this hole. Yearling linebacker Tatum Bethune is excited for an increased role. He’ll team with third-year pro Jalen Graham in this battle to solidify this important position on the field.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted this has been the toughest roster to manage. He stressed that it’s about more than just targeting one player at a time. He emphasized that balancing various needs, such as acquiring a backup tackle or evaluating quarterback options, complicates negotiations and decision-making during free agency.
Although replacing Greenlaw will be no simple feat, the 49ers are determined to address the most glaring holes in their lineup. Lynch remarked on the challenge ahead: “That’s a high ask to go be Dre Greenlaw right away.” Lastly, the team knows candidly that filling such a substantial role isn’t going to be easy, especially as they’re still actively assessing and testing their returning roster.
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