The 49ers miscalculated in a big way.
They assumed they could let Dre Greenlaw explore free agency and still bring him back. Perhaps they believed his market would be limited due to the Achilles injury that sidelined him for most of last season.
Whatever their reasoning, the 49ers didn’t appear to make Greenlaw a strong enough offer. Then, the Broncos stepped in with a three-year, $35 million deal, including $11.5 million guaranteed—and Greenlaw accepted.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the 49ers scrambled to keep him even after he had agreed to terms with Denver. They made a last-minute, improved offer, hoping he would reconsider.
“The 49ers were trying to get back Dre Greenlaw, even after Denver had an agreement done with him,” Schefter reported. “They were pushing to get that done and trying to flip his decision in this world where people commit and agreements are made.”
“The 49ers tried to flip Dre Greenlaw back to San Francisco, and I think they were pretty persuasive, but not persuasive enough. I think Dre Greenlaw stood his ground and kind of stayed with Denver. … In San Francisco, they’re struggling to pay everybody, so that’s part of it.”
Here’s my interpretation of what happened. Keep in mind this is just my interpretation.
1. The 49ers gave Greenlaw a lowball offer thinking he wouldn’t get anything better. This offended him.
2. The Broncos made Greenlaw feel special and appreciated with their offer in ways the 49ers never have, considering they’ve never paid him or promoted him to the media the way they paid and promoted Fred Warner.
- The 49ers made a last-ditch attempt to match Denver’s offer, but Greenlaw wasn’t having it—he stuck with the Broncos.
If my interpretation is correct, good for Greenlaw. He chose a team that truly valued him, and I hope he thrives in Denver.
As for the 49ers? Shame on them. Instead of prioritizing Greenlaw, they spent money on Luke Farrell, a blocking tight end, and Kyle Juszczyk, a 33-year-old fullback. That speaks volumes about how little they valued him.
If I were Greenlaw, I would’ve walked away, too.
