Dre Greenlaw, 49ers Reportedly Agree to Contract in NFL Free Agency, Updated Depth Chart, Salary Cap

The San Francisco 49ers are reuniting with their former star linebacker Dre Greenlaw.

The Niners and Greenlaw have agreed to a one-year, $7.5 million deal in free agency, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported.

Greenlaw played the first six seasons of his NFL career with the 49ers before playing last season for the Denver Broncos.

The 49ers had about $22.6 million in cap space heading into free agency.

The franchise has since agreed to five other new contracts, including a three-year, $60.4 million deal for wide receiver Mike Evans and two-year, $12 million contract for offensive tackle Vederian Lowe, per ESPN.

The Niners have also completed a trade for former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, whose contract is set to cost $16.75 million against the cap in 2026, per Spotrac.

The 49ers gained $5.4 million in cap space, and lost some defensive depth, when defensive end Bryce Huff announced his retirement Thursday, per the San Francisco Chronicle's Noah Furtado.

Here's a look at a potential depth chart for the 49ers' defense following Greenlaw's return, via ESPN.

---

DE: C.J. West, Sebastian Valdez

NT: Alfred Collins, Evan Anderson

DE: Osa Odighizuwa

DE: Nick Bosa

LB: Dre Greenlaw, Dee Winters

LB: Fred Warner, Tatum Bethune

LB: Mykel Williams, Keion White

CB: Renardo Green, Darrell Luter Jr.

SS: Ji'Ayir Brown, Marques Sigle

FS: Malik Mustapha, Siran Neal

CB: Deommodore Lenoir, Jakob Robinson

NB: Upton Stout

---

The 49ers also have Nick Martin, Andrew Farmer, Will Bradley-King, Garret Wallow, Jalen Graham and Milo Eifler under contract in the linebackers room, per Spotrac.

Greenlaw, who played just two games of his last season with the 49ers after tearing his Achilles tendon in February 2024, joined the Broncos on a three-year deal after hitting free agency last offseason.

He was limited to just eight games of his lone season with the Broncos due to quad and hamstring injuries as well as a one-game suspension.

When available he recorded 1.0 sacks, 43 tackles, two passes defensed, a forced fumble and an interception.

The Broncos ultimately released Greenlaw, who had no guaranteed money remaining on his deal after 2026, after re-signing Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad earlier this offseason.

The 49ers will now hope that a healthier year for Greenlaw, combined with a reunion with Fred Warner, will help both the veteran linebacker and the Niners' defense bounce back in 2026.