The 49ers have seen a host of high-profile talent depart in free agency and, outside of blocking tight end Luke Farrell, have not authorized an FA contract with an average annual value above $4MM. However, as Matt Barrows of The Athletic (subscription required) confirms, the club did try to re-sign linebacker Dre Greenlaw even after he had agreed to join the Broncos.
We heard back in February that San Francisco and Greenlaw were discussing a new contract, though GM John Lynch suggested even then that the 27-year-old defender could look to test the free agent market. According to Barrows, that market may have been slow to heat up but eventually became a “dogfight” that included the incumbent Niners. Barrows does not provide details on Lynch’s final pitch to Greenlaw, who ultimately signed a three-year, $31.5MM deal with Denver.
The contract is relatively light on full guarantees, which allows the Broncos to escape the pact fairly painlessly in 2026. It also underscores the fact that Greenlaw has a notable injury history; he played in only two regular season games in 2024 thanks to the Achilles tear he suffered in Super Bowl LVIII at the end of the 2023 campaign, and he also missed 14 games in 2021 due to a groin injury.
When healthy, though, Greenlaw teamed with Fred Warner to form one of the league’s best LB duos, and Greenlaw also has developed a reputation for being strong in coverage. His track record of high-level production, combined with a weak collegiate class of linebackers, helped him generate significant competition for his services.
After losing out on that competition, the 49ers – who presently have a number of recent Day 3 draftees like Dee Winters penciled in as Warner’s running mate – could look to the free agent market to bolster the position. Some of the more notable names still available include C.J. Mosley, who made plain he intends to continue his playing career, and E.J. Speed, who tallied 142 tackles for the Colts last season.
In terms of starting experience, De’Vondre Campbell also stands out as one of the more accomplished LBs on the market, but obviously his relationship with San Francisco is beyond repair. After signing with the 49ers as a Greenlaw insurance policy last March, Campbell started 12 of the team’s first 13 games of the 2024 season. Greenlaw returned in Week 15, thereby relegating Campbell to a reserve role. Then, when Greenlaw and Winters sustained injuries during that Week 15 contest, Campbell was asked to go into the game. He refused, thus leading to a suspension and the forfeiture of just over $260K in salary and roster bonuses (h/t Spotrac).
Last month, Campbell published on X a series of NSFW posts referencing the situation, though he did not go into detail as to why he refused to enter the Week 15 game.
“It’s been 2 months and I have yet to address the situation cause I know the truth and don’t care to clear anything up. … I ain’t addressing s***. I’m rich and never have to work another day of my life and I told Kyle Shannahan [sic] and John Lynch that when they FaceTime me and begged me to come out there an hour after Green Bay cut me.”
Campbell, 31, has amassed just under $40MM in career earnings. His posts suggest he is content with not continuing his playing career, and given the way his San Francisco tenure ended, teams may be reluctant to bring him aboard anyway, even for a modest salary.
While the 49ers were unable to entice Greenlaw back to the team after he tested the open market, Lynch & Co. were successful in re-signing fullback Kyle Juszczyk less than a week after releasing him. The Steelers hosted Juszczyk on a visit, and the nine-time Pro Bowler indicated in a recent interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio that other clubs were interested as well (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk). His brief time as a 2025 free agent solidified his desire to remain in the Bay Area, and he returned to the Niners on a two-year pact featuring an AAV just less than what he was due to make prior to his release (but which presumably helped carve out some 2025 cap space).
“They put it in my court, whether I wanted to be released or continue to negotiate a pay cut,” Juszczyk said, while adding he was told by the 49ers that their financial constraints are real. “I think it’s good to see what your market is, so they gave me the opportunity to do that. Me and my agent, we went to work and we had some interested teams, we explored those possibilities. … I wanted to be a Niner and we were able to get to a number I was comfortable with and we made a deal and I couldn’t be happier.”
As Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle observes, the club’s decision to sign Farrell to a notable contract made more sense upon Juszczyk’s release, as it suggested the tight end would take on a portion of the FB’s blocking responsibilities. With Juszczyk back in the mix, Farrell is still likely to see significant playing time, but his presence will allow George Kittle to spend more time running routes and less time showing off his admittedly formidable blocking skills.
So did Campbell just retire with that statement? Since he is making it known he is rich and never has to work. Feels like he would do it again on another team.
Looks like Campbell just started his retirement early. Who’d want him now? Glad he’s rich, But I’m willing to bet he’ll be working at McDonalds or s a Walmart greeter before it’s over with brains like that.
“With brains like that.” That’s funny, his brains earned him $40m.
That’s funny, his “Brains like that” lost him at least another $20 million, he’s an idiot with some athletic skill and a small brain!
I agree. He will be broke 5 years after retirement.
There’s always three sides to a story
Your side
Their side
The truth somewhere in the middle
Doubt we will ever know what happened between Campbell and the 49ers coaching staff/management behind closed doors that led up to him refusing to enter to a game but I also doubt the 49ers are complete innocent in the situation.
Maybe something was said maybe there was an argument but after the season the 49ers had with such high expectations coming off a Super Bowl appearance I doubt eveything was peachy in that locker room.
That’s fair. I can’t imagine what would make me okay personally with walking out on my team, though, even if the organization has guilt on their hands. Football is an unholy mix of business and teamsmanship that teeters ever further in the way of the former, but to me personally, I’d still feel as though I had abandoned my guys and my word if I walked out.
I do understand that Campbell might have had some legitimate gripe, one that you or I or even potentially all of us could agree with, but it’s still hard for me to imagine what could justify a healthy quitting. I don’t say this to argue with you on the point; I actually acknowledge your statement as having merit. I actually would be more surprised than not if there some disagreement that levied at least contribution on the team’s end. This stuff doesn’t happen a vacuum, after all, and before this point, Campbell was a professional. I’m just trying to think of what could make me do what Campbell did and it’s hard to find an answer-even though it may be out there somewhere.
We’ve all probably been there at one point without or jobs where we’ve said f this place I’m done.
What could make Campbell quit? My personal guess is in fighting amongst the defensive unit. I think Shanahan lost control of that side of the ball and his defensive staff didn’t handle adversity well amongst players. Which is why I think nick sorenson got the boot a year in. But I think there was a lot of finger pointing on the defense and they fell apart.
They hired Bradley as new DC and hired a new DBs coach.
The signs could support that. Shanahan obviously left that side of the ball up to an independent coordinator who works like a second coach. Your theory would explain the Staley hiring, too-despite how bad he is, he was a HC before, which would check off that box for them.