The San Francisco 49ers’ situation is rapidly getting worse, and the primary uncertainty is how long the harm will persist. With a 6-8 record, the 49ers are in last place in the NFC West and are just hanging on to their dreams of making the playoffs. They will probably miss the playoffs for the first time since 2020, and it’s uncertain if San Francisco will compete in the upcoming years given the high anticipated team turnover.
One could be tempted to blame injuries for the 49ers’ defence, which was previously renowned, becoming at best poor this season. Fred Warner has been playing through a shattered ankle for three months, Nick Bosa has missed multiple games, and another superstar only made an appearance last week. The 49ers’ 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday marked the return of Dre Greenlaw, a key player in the team’s Super Bowl run the previous season. However, Greenlaw might be leaving the house as soon as he returned.
During this spring’s free-agency window, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report recently forecast that Greenlaw will sign with the Denver Broncos, a new team in the AFC West. “The Broncos have to be considered the breakout unit of the 2024 season,” Ballentine stated. “A solid secondary and a set of pass-rushers who sprang forward are mostly to blame for that. There is certainly room for improvement in the middle of the defence.
“Dre Greenlaw returned to the Niners lineup on Thursday after missing the majority of the season. With additional time to heal from the Achilles he tore during the previous postseason, he ought to be even better the following season. In his six-year career, 27-year-old Greenlaw has 427 total tackles and 18 tackles for loss. Two of his five career interceptions, including the game-winning pick on the final drive, occurred against the Green Bay Packers during the playoffs last year. It was his masterpiece.
Greenlaw, who is widely considered to be among the best linebackers in the league when healthy, would be a significant loss for the 49ers. However, it’s unclear if San Francisco will pay to keep him in town because he’s probably due for a pay increase on the two-year, $16.4 million contract they offered him in 2023.