Outdated NFL approach complicates 49ers' ability to keep star defender on the roster
Dre Greenlaw played only two games in 2024, and it might very well have been his last season for the San Francisco 49ers. The linebacker is slated to hit free agency, and an old NFL terminology makes it harder for the 49ers to keep him around. Theoretically, the 49ers could apply a franchise tag or […]
Dre Greenlaw played only two games in 2024, and it might very well have been his last season for the San Francisco 49ers. The linebacker is slated to hit free agency, and an old NFL terminology makes it harder for the 49ers to keep him around.
Theoretically, the 49ers could apply a franchise tag or transition tag to secure Greenlaw on the roster, or to at least expand the negotiation period. The window to do starts on Tuesday.
However, it's unlikely that the 49ers could afford those options, especially because the NFL doesn't separate real off-ball linebackers from outside linebackers who are actually edge rushers.
The franchise tag value is defined by the average of the five highest-paid players from the position over the last five years. It's the average of the ten highest-paid players for the transition tag.
But if you see the list of top linebackers, most of them are actually edge rushers—Joshua Hines-Allen, Brian Burns, TJ Watt, Bradley Chubb, Joey Bosa, Jonathan Greenard. Roquan Smith is the only off-ball linebacker who makes $20 million or more a year.
It's truly weird that the NFL doesn't adapt to the new reality. The correct stance should be to organize players for what they truly do (interior defensive linemen, edge defenders, off-ball linebackers), and not outdated positions like defensive ends and putting 3-4 outside linebackers together with 4-3 off-ball linebackers.
Reality
As the situation is, the franchise tag is $27.05 million for linebackers. In this case, the 49ers would have to pay this much and have the entire cap hit this season. If another team makes an offer, the 49ers could match it or receive two first-round picks as compensation.
Even the transition tag is too expensive, at $22.6 million. And here, the 49ers wouldn't even receive any type of compensation. It's just the possibility of matching an outside offer.
These numbers are simply not realistic, especially because the 49ers are already paying $19.045 million per year to fellow linebacker Fred Warner.
Under these circumstances, the 49ers simply can't afford to avoid Dre Greelaw hitting the market. He will be a free agent, and his future might be far away from San Francisco.
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