49ers Chased Defender After Deal With New Team Was Announced

The San Francisco 49ers have experienced many changes this offseason, which includes a long list of players leaving town and signing elsewhere.

Many of those departures came on the defensive side, including Talanoa Hufanga, Charvarius Ward, Isaac Yiadom, Javon Hargrave, and Dre Greenlaw.

ESPN's Adam Schefter appeared on the "Moser, Lombardi, and Kane" Podcast and revealed that the 49ers tried to persuade Greenlaw to come back after his deal with the Broncos was announced.

Schefter said, "The Niners were trying to get back Dre Greenlaw. Even after Denver had an agreement done with him. They were pushing to get that done. And they were trying to flip his decision.... I think they were pretty persuasive but not persuasive enough."

49ers Tried to Bring Dre Greenlaw Back to SF

The Broncos agreed to terms with Greenlaw on a three-year, $31.5 million deal that includes $13.5 million guaranteed.

He and Hufanga decided to head to Denver, but the 49ers still wanted to bring Greenlaw back. While Schefter didn't reveal what they did, it appears they upped their offer to the stud linebacker. The 27-year-old was drafted in the fifth round in the 2019 NFL Draft. He developed into a stout defender at the second level and formed a dominating LB duo with Fred Warner.

In 64 career games (56 starts), Greenlaw has recorded 455 total tackles, 18 TFLs, nine QB hits, 14 pass deflections, and three interceptions.

The past two years have been a struggle, though, as he tore his Achilles in Super Bowl 58 while suffering a calf injury in 2025.

Despite being hit with the injury bug over the last two seasons, the 49ers loved what he brought to the field and the locker room.

The 49ers' offer clearly wasn't more than what the Broncos offered and that was the deciding factor. While they wanted him back in the fold for 2025, they couldn't close the door and get him to re-sign in San Francisco.

More San Francisco 49ers News and Rumors: