After reportedly agreeing to a one-year contract with the 49ers earlier today, veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks will instead sign with the Cowboys. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Kendricks had a change of heart, preferring to play in Dallas. 
Kendricks was a cap casualty a week ago, getting released from his two-year contract with the Chargers after finishing second on the team in tackles. The nine-year veteran had secured $6.63MM per year after leaving Minnesota for the first time and rewarded Los Angeles with 117 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and six passes defensed. Pro Football Focus graded Kendricks as the 25th best linebacker in the NFL.
A key presence at middle linebacker during the Vikings’ Mike Zimmer era, Kendricks was tied to an eight-figure-per-year Minnesota deal two seasons ago. Kendricks, 32, has put together eight straight seasons with 100-plus tackles, mixing in 18.5 career sacks. He earned first-team All-Pro acclaim in 2019, helping the Vikings to the divisional round, while starting for four playoff teams from 2015-22.
Kendricks was set to add some depth at linebacker in San Francisco. The 49ers fielded one of the NFL’s better defenses last year but were thrown for a loop when Dre Greenlaw tore his Achilles tendon in the Super Bowl last year. San Francisco will now be forced to look elsewhere for that depth.
Instead, Kendricks is set to reunite with Zimmer, who takes over as defensive coordinator in Dallas this offseason. Zimmer sought an upgrade at middle linebacker on a defense that was stout against the pass but middling against the run. Kendricks should slot in as a starter between Micah Parsons and Leighton Vander Esch, ceding time here and there to Damone Clark. Due to his experience with Zimmer, though, expect Kendricks to play a larger role in Dallas.
Why?
He must be planning to move to Mexico when his career is done, he’s trying to get on the Mexicans good side by joining their national team.
Clearly he doesn’t want a chance to win.
Decided that he’d rather play for Mike Zimmer than Brandon Staley?
Brandon Staley isn’t the DC in San Francisco
According to Wikipedia, Kendricks is the only active NFL player born on a leap day…so naturally he would have the urge to jump from one team to another.
That’s a downgrade but maybe they offered him a better deal or more playing time or lower taxes.
He would be main inside lb where as in SF Warner would get credit.
Warner would get credit next to any lb in the league.
Kinda scummy to renege so long after
Who care he suck
LVE is expected to retire
That’s what I thought I’d read some weeks ago.
My knock on Hendricks was his TE coverage was suspect as he’s kinda short going against big TEs and had diffuculty bringing them down. Though his run defense was pretty good as he put himself in good position to make a difference or a tackle.
Enjoy losing in Dallas…
Best record in the NFL for the last four years combined, but ok.
What’s their record in the playoffs?
Playing next to Vanderesch would be confusing considering he announced his retirement a couple weeks ago
Vander Esch is going to call it a career – neck injuries are no joke. So, Hendricks is a starter and will get tons of time – especially with Parsons moving around to rush.