At 6-8, the San Francisco 49ers are all-but eliminated from the playoffs, and impending free agent Dre Greenlaw is looking toward the future. A fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Arkansas product immediately outplayed his draft capital to play a pivotal role on the NFC Champion 49ers. He proved this wasn’t a one-year fluke, maintaining his role on the defense while recording 127 tackles in 2022 and 120 in 2023.
Unfortunately, the star linebacker tore his Achilles during Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs, forcing him to start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. The defense suffered without him, but he returned to the lineup in Week 15’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Now healthy, the 49ers star is looking towards the future and said he wants “some money” for Christmas.
I asked Dre Greenlaw, who will be an unrestricted free agent, what he wants for Christmas this year.
"Some money" #49ers | #FTTB pic.twitter.com/kHOK3Qc60T
— Matt Lively (@mattblively) December 18, 2024
Nobody knows what Dre Greenlaw can get as a free agent. When healthy, he’s one of the league’s better all-around linebackers and should generate a market. However, Achilles injuries are one of the most serious in the game, and the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons can tell you that players don’t magically recover from those ailments. The 49ers need to pay quarterback Brock Purdy this offseason, which means a team like the Los Angeles Chargers or Carolina Panthers could easily outbid the competition.
Panthers, Chargers Could Steal Free Agent Dre Greenlaw From 49ers
The Carolina Panthers successfully rebuilt their offense during the offseason, and head coach Dave Canales is standing behind quarterback Bryce Young. While nobody will confuse this unit with the 2007 New England Patriots, the offensive line and promising young receivers mean the team should spend the upcoming offseason focused on the defensive side of the ball.
Carolina’s successful offensive rebuild came at the expense of the defense. The team had too many holes to address in one offseason, so they had to prioritize their needs and understandably chose to focus on building a supportive environment for Young. Now, they must build a defense that can keep them in games. If Dre Greenlaw plays well down the stretch, the Panthers could feel comfortable with investing in the impending free agent.
Winning With Defense
Nobody values old-school football more than Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. The former Michigan champion turned the Chargers into a playoff team during his first year at the helm. Still, he has some work to do before this organization is a legitimate contender. The defense played well early in the season but struggled to hold their own against top competition. 2023 third-round pick Daiyan Henley has played remarkably well, but Los Angeles could use another reliable starter on this defense.
Dre Greenlaw isn’t the safest bet in the world, but the Chargers have the cap space to justify a medium-risk, high-reward free agent signing. According to OverTheCap, Los Angeles is projected to have $76.1 million in 2025 cap space, so they should be able to sign Greenlaw without impacting their ability to go after other big-name players. If they make the right moves, this team could legitimately compete for a title in 2025.
Main Photo: Cary Edmonton – USA Today Sports
