The defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers do not have many holes to fill on their roster. They were an overtime loss away from capturing the Super Bowl title less than a month ago.
Unfortunately, that Super Bowl defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs also came with a rather major loss. Star linebacker Dre Greenlaw suffered a ruptured Achilles in a freak manner during the first half of the overtime loss.
One of the most-important players on the 49ers’ defense, Greenlaw will now likely miss a large portion of the 2024 season. All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner will now be without his running mate as the 49ers look to finally get over the hump.
However, there is some hope of finding a short-term replacement for Greenlaw this offseason. The linebacker position is seen as absolutely loaded. According to at least one report, it will lead to a “depressed” market for players set to hit NFL free agency. In turn, this will benefit teams as they will be able to sign starter-caliber linebackers on the cheap.
There is a direct correlation for San Francisco in that this team now needs to find a starter opposite Warner for the 2024 season. Here’s an idea.
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San Francisco 49ers should sign Bobby Wagner in NFL free agency
Imagine the 49ers adding a longtime Seattle Seahawks defender to the mix. A vaunted member of their previously elite “Legion of Boom” defense.
Oh, wait. We don’t have to.
It was back in 2018 that future Hall of Fame cornerback Richard Sherman shockingly signed with the 49ers after helping Seattle to a Super Bowl tite in his seven seasons in the Pacific Northwest. He’d end up also playing a big role in San Francisco’s Super Bowl run in 2019.
That’s all fine and dandy. But this wouldn’t just be San Francisco sticking it to a division rival. There are connections. There is a fit. Wagner can still play.
First off, the 49ers just hired former Seahawks star K.J. Wright to be its assistant linebackers coach. Wright starred next to Wagner at linebacker in Seattle from 2012-20. The two boast an absolutely great relationship. The idea of Wagner and Wright working together in Northern California makes just too much sense.
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Wagner, 33, is still playing exceptional football. He earned Second-Team All-Pro honors in his return to the Seahawks last season after a one-year hiatus to play for the Los Angeles Rams.
Wagner recorded a league-high 183 tackles to go with 11 tackles for loss and six quarterback hits in 2023. He’s still that thumper we’ve seen Greenlaw be next to Warner. In short, it’s an on-field fit.
The nine-time Pro Bowl linebacker is also at a stage in his career in which competing for a title is likely more important than money. San Francisco offers that much more than Seattle at this point.
The 49ers might believe youngsters Dee Winters and Jalen Graham can hold down the fort next to Warner until Greenlaw returns. They could go in another direction with former San Francisco standout linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair in free agency.
GM John Lynch and Co. could also exhaust an early-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on a linebacker.
None of these options seem as attractive as landing a true professional to play under his teammate for a season in hopes of competing for a title.
That’s the truth.
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