The San Francisco 49ers had hoped other NFL teams would be as cautious as they were in signing Dre Greenlaw. However, the linebacker remained optimistic about his market value and knew the 49ers were seeking a hometown discount due to his injury history.
Greenlaw tore his Achilles in Super Bowl LVIII and didn't return until Week 15 of the 2024 season. When he did, he quickly showed he was back to form, recording eight tackles despite not playing the entire game. Unfortunately, in Week 16, a separate setback sidelined him for the remainder of the season, paving the way for his departure in free agency.
"We're very interested in having Dre back," general manager John Lynch said at the NFL Scouting Combine.
However, he also acknowledged that the 49ers would wait to see how much interest Greenlaw generated on the open market before determining if re-signing the linebacker was feasible.
"Dre should go out and see what's out there, and then we know where we have to be," Lynch explained.
Enter the Denver Broncos, who didn't just sign Greenlaw but also made a splash by adding former 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga.
Greenlaw ultimately signed a three-year, $31.5 million deal with the Broncos. However, according to OverTheCap.com, all the guaranteed money is tied to the first year, giving Denver flexibility if Greenlaw struggles with his recovery.
In the worst-case scenario, the Broncos would be on the hook for only about $11.5 million, which includes the $5 million in guaranteed money for year one ($3.47 million base salary and $1.53 million per-game roster bonus) along with a $6.5 million signing bonus spread over the contract's length.
The 49ers likely considered a one-year deal to evaluate whether Greenlaw could bounce back in 2025, given that he's missed significant time in two of the past four seasons. However, they probably weren't going to commit $11.5 million, especially with quarterback Brock Purdy's contract extension looming. That ultimately led to the exit of the fan-favorite defender, alongside several other key players this offseason. While the 49ers have salary cap space, they're likely earmarking much of it for the future as it can be carried over beyond 2025.
Linebacker Fred Warner will undoubtedly miss having Greenlaw as a teammate.
"One of the baddest boys to ever touch that green grass," Warner wrote in a recent social media post. "We had moments that'll last a lifetime and they always remember how we rocked out [every time]!! Ain't no 5-4 without 5-7."
