The San Francisco 49ers have been busy during free agency. Mike Evans, Christian Kirk, and Osa Odighizuwa have joined the team as immediate contributors. The 49ers also added secondary and offensive line depth ahead of the NFL Draft. But which signing was deemed “under the radar” by Pro Football Focus?
Dalton Wasserman of PFF chose five under-the-radar signings, and Dre Greenlaw for the 49ers was one of the five selections.
LB Dre Greenlaw signs with the San Francisco 49ers
Contract: One year, $7.5 million
Greenlaw returns to San Francisco after a strong season in Denver in which he set a career-high in PFF run-defense grade at 86.9, 10th among 93 qualifying linebackers. The former fifth-round pick out of Arkansas spent the first six years of his career with the 49ers and will reunite with All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner in 2026 as the 49ers look to improve their defensive unit that ranked 31st in PFF grade as a team at 49.4.
While he’s still a top-notch run defender, Greenlaw’s coverage capabilities appear to be on the decline as he’s dealt with injuries over the last few years. He peaked with an 82.6 PFF coverage grade in 2022, but that number has steadily declined to 64.4 in 2025.
This is a classic low-risk, high-reward contract for a player the 49ers know better than anyone. Greenlaw will turn 29 years old in May and still has some productive years left, assuming he can stay healthy.
It is a bit shocking to see the linebacker back in the bay after bolting for Denver for a season, but the former 49er complained about practice habits (funny, huh) and the complexity of the Broncos defensive playbook. Greenlaw should have no worries fitting right back in. The only concern is health, and to be fair, that is a concern for many 49ers players in 2026.
Greenlaw will have his chance at free agency again next offseason if he proves his worth on the field. For now, the vibes around this move are nothing but positive.
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