The Denver Broncos snagged one of the better available inside linebackers in NFL Free Agency on Monday. Dre Greenlaw will come in to help take the Broncos defense a step further in 2025.
Denver Broncos snag Dre Greenlaw away from San Francisco 49ers
Inside linebacker was one of the more important positions of need for the Denver Broncos to tackle, pun intended, this offseason. On Monday, the Broncos agreed to terms with Dre Greenlaw on a three-year deal worth $35M, who departs the San Francisco 49ers for the Mile High City.
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Greenlaw is the second 49ers player to leave San Francisco and land in Denver in the last 24 hours. Now he joins former teammate Talanoa Hufanga on defense, where both former 49ers are anticipated to have a big impact on Denver’s defense under Vance Joseph.
Greenlaw is looking for a fresh start and has a chance to do so with the Broncos where his skillset should complement Alex Singleton. Greenlaw’s athleticism is something the Broncos haven’t necessarily had to that magnitude since the days of Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan and that’s an area he’s expected to help them in.
After suffering a freak non-contact Achilles injury in the Super Bowl in 2023, Greenlaw missed a large portion of 2024 before returning for two games. Upon his return, he experienced calf soreness, and the 49ers made the business decision to shut him down for the final two games of the regular season as he prepared for free agency.
There was interest from San Francisco in him returning, especially with Robert Saleh returning as the team’s defensive coordinator, but the 49ers salary cap situation didn’t warrant a return, and now Greenlaw gets a fresh start where he’ll have an important role for Denver’s defense.
In 2022, he had 127 tackles, followed by 120 in 2023. He’s an instinctive player, and now the Broncos beefed up their defense at two of their biggest needs on that side of the ball. Stay tuned for a film breakdown on the Mile High Sports YouTube page for both players.