The Niners need a backup plan if they’re not able to bring back Dre Greenlaw.
The San Francisco 49ers have a good number of quality free agents this offseason, as starters on both sides of the ball are expected to test the open market.
Among the group is linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who has been with the 49ers since being drafted in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Greenlaw, who signed a two-year extension back in 2023, was limited to nine games this season as he recovered from a torn Achilles injury.
But, at 27 years old, he’s still a young linebacker that can be a force when healthy, and other teams have taken notice. After outplaying his previous contract, Greenlaw could be in line for a multi-year deal in free agency this offseason, potentially pricing himself out of San Francisco’s price range.
If Greenlaw does indeed leave, the 49ers will need to find another linebacker on the market if they’re not satisfied with their current options. They missed on the De’Vondre Campbell signing last offseason, which proved to be costly both on and off the field.
So, should Greenlaw leave, who could be replacements to target in free agency?
Pro Football Network recently listed their top free agent fit for every NFL team, citing Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton as a good target for the 49ers.
“The San Francisco 49ers are coming off a tough season, but they are in a relatively good position regarding their roster as a whole. The main positions they need to address are offensive line, defensive line, and linebacker,” PFN’s Ben Rolfe wrote.
“It is intriguing to put a player like Nick Bolton next to Fred Warner. Bolton was the centerpiece of the Chiefs’ [defense] and has the chance to be Warner’s long-term partner in the center of the 49ers defense. We have seen that the 49ers place a high importance on the position and Bolton could be the next evolution of that.
“Bolton has three 100-tackle seasons in his first four years and has also proven a nuisance around the quarterback. He is a versatile piece that feels like a luxury for the 49ers, but he can get after the passer or drop into coverage. The thought of Warner and Bolton together in a defense will be terrifying for opposing offenses.”
Bolton would provide the 49ers with a three-down player at linebacker, which would be coveted in Robert Saleh’s defense, as Fred Warner has a similar responsibility for the team.
Bolton is also an active player, racking up over 100 tackles in three of the past four years, as Rolfe mentioned, which meshes well with San Francisco’s defensive mindset.
There doesn’t seem to be many starting-caliber linebackers available in free agency, which could push the price up of players like Greenlaw and Bolton.
But, the 49ers can’t afford to have another year of sub-optimal play from their No. 2 linebacker after the disappointing year from De’Vondre Campbell in 2024.