The 49ers are bolstering their linebacking corps in a big way. ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday reported San Francisco is signing former Chargers linebacker Eric Kendricks. Kendricks is able to officially sign before the new league year since he’s already been released by Los Angeles, although no official announcement has come down yet.
Linebacker became a sizable need for the 49ers when Dre Greenlaw tore his Achilles while running onto the field during Super Bowl LVIII.
Kendricks is a high-quality option to fill that spot while Greenlaw recovers.
The Vikings selected Kendricks in the second round of the 2015 draft and he immediately became a staple on the second level for them, posting 92 tackles and 4.0 sacks in 14 games his first year. He’s posted at least 100 tackles in each of the following eight seasons and earned a First-Team All-Pro nod for his excellent 2019 season.
Kendricks spent last season with the Chargers and missed two games but still had a productive year. He’s seen a little bit of a decline in coverage over the last couple of seasons, but at his peak he was perhaps the best coverage linebacker in football.
The 49ers figure to slot Kendricks in as a starting Will linebacker for as long as Greenlaw is out. Even if/when Greenlaw returns it may be in a Sam LB role where he’s only on the field in base packages depending on how he looks post-recovery.
Kendricks in nine NFL seasons has 1,036 tackles, 18.5 sacks, nine interceptions and 57 pass breakups.
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