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Nick Waggoner
Santa Clara, California – while the San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, and General Manager John Lynch had prepared for a long time for the low season exodus that hit his team on the opening days of the free agency, the supporter Dre Greenlaw was a player they hoped to maintain.
Although he played only 34 snapshots in 2024 Due to an injury, Greenlaw had been an integral part of the 49ers defensive success since his arrival as a fifth round selection in 2019. His combination of production and passion for the game made him 49 years. retain.
Therefore, when it was learned that Greenlaw had agreed to a three -year treatment and $ 31.5 million with the Denver Broncos, Lynch and Shanahan did something they had never done before. After not being able to sign Greenlaw before the negotiation window was opened, Lynch and Shanahan flew to Texas to give a final blow to convincing Greenlaw that he returned to the only NFL team he had met.
“We had not finished with DRE, but we had to go through the process and other teams were aggressive in his search for him and, I suppose, we were forced to be somewhat reactive when a market was established,” Lynch said about the last minute plea to Greenlaw. “We only wanted to have a conversation with our guy who we have a lot of respect and love and we had a good discussion with him. He made a decision. We respect that decision.”
Greenlaw stayed with his agreement with the Broncos and started from San Francisco. While for a long time he kept his love for the 49ers and being part of a label team with his close supporter Fred Warner, he also sought the opportunity to be a defensive focal point.
Despite the injuries that cost him 36 of the 100 possible games of the regular season in his first six seasons, Greenlaw attracted a lot of interest. The niners hoped that they could afford to keep it in a low season in which they planned to go back their expenses and swallow significant salary blows to clean things for the Brock Purdy field marshal. But there would be no discount in the city of Greenlaw, which led its price far beyond any agency offer prior to the bookstore made to the niners.
“We thought it was going to be very sought after,” said Broncos coach Sean Payton. “I think the injuries may have played a small role in how it became a free agent. Otherwise, it never hit the free agents market [and] He is someone who meets. … I was not very surprised if there were other very involved teams. “
That level of interest in Greenlaw did not surprise the 49ers, but at least there was some expectation that his injury history could depress his market. In a sense, he did, since other supporters outside the less successful (but healthier) ball signed for more money. The Philadelphia Eagles signed Zack Baun for $ 17 million per season, while the New York Jets retained Jamien Sherwood and Kansas City chiefs kept Nick Bolton, each with $ 15 million per year.
Even so, the efforts of the 49ers to keep Greenlaw of the free agency were unsuccessful because they were not close to where the market carried it. When they finally appeared, it was very little, too late.
“It’s not just one player at the same time,” said Shanahan. “You are working 20 different things at the same time. You are trying to get a backup Tackle; you are trying to get a quarterback. You are working on supporters, you are working on security, you are working on all these positions and not only go to negotiate with agents and these things happen … We take another opportunity and we could not do it.”
LineBacker has risen higher in the long list of San Francisco needs that enter the NFL draft at the end of this month. Even if the 49ers had been able to keep Greenlaw, the supporter would have been a position of necessity; Now it could be said that it is one of the three main positions to address with its 11 selections.
Of course, replacing Greenlaw will not be easy given everything that has meant for the 49ers. In 64 regular seasonal games, the 49ers were 44-20 when Greenlaw played. They had 16-20 when he didn’t.
Speaking at the annual meetings of the League, Lynch and Shanahan indicated that the third year supporter Dee Winters would have the first opportunity to intervene in Greenlaw. On its first extended opportunity last season, Winters played 386 snapshots in 15 games with 39 cup and four breaks of passes.
The speed and ability of the winters have intrigued the niners, since they used a selection of sixth round in the 2023 draft, but fought with injuries in 2024. The first two games of the season were lost with an ankle problem that was lost for much of the season and treated with a brain shock so well neck and chest.
According to Shanahan, Winters showed flashes of being a headline capable in 2024 and has the right mentality to handle the work with Warner, but it will be fundamental for him to add in bulk to better resist the rigors of the season.
“He plays with our style,” Shanahan said. “He loves running and hitting. I think he tried that last year … and now I think he is only working in his body trying to improve so he can stay healthy and play as he does through a 17 games season. But he has demonstrated that potential and we are bringing some competition here in the Draft.”
Beyond the winters, they still have the second year supporter Tatum Bethune and another third -year player in Jalen Graham. They also signed the veteran Curtis Robinson and added the supporter Luke Gifford in the free agency.
Meanwhile, the draft does not seem to be loaded with talent in the position, although the 49ers have shown interest in many perspectives. Jihaad Campbell of Alabama is considered the best player, but Georgia Jalon Walker could also play outside the ball at the base of the border corridor’s capacity when passing the casualties. Carson Schwesinger of UCLA, Jeffrey Bassa de Oregon, Demetrius Knight Jr. de Carolina del Sur and Chris Paul Jr. De Mississippi are other options available after the first round.
Regardless of how it develops, the 49ers know that it is unfair to expect any player to be a replacement one by one for Greenlaw. That is why they flew to Texas to try to convince him to stay, but they could not close the deal.
“We’ll see yes [failing to sign Greenlaw before free agency] It was a good decision or not, “said Lynch.” That is a great request to be Dre Greenlaw immediately. We have the draft and, therefore, we will see all the positions and there, but there are opportunities there. “
