The San Francisco 49ers were looking for more depth at the linebacker spot after Dre Greenlaw suffered a torn Achilles in their Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last month.
San Francisco does have All-Pro Fred Warner to handle things. But with Greenlaw’s status to open next season up in the air, adding another starter-caliber veteran has been the focal point for general manager John Lynch and Co.
The 49ers thought they had added All-Pro linebacker Eric Kendricks from the Los Angeles Chargers during the NFL free agent tampering period earlier in the week. But he had a change of heart and ultimately signed with the Dallas Cowboys.
With Greenlaw recovering from that significant injury, there is not much behind Warner on the 49ers’ depth chart at linebacker. That includes youngsters Dee Winters and Jalen Graham. There was certainly a need here.
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San Francisco 49ers sign All-Pro linebacker De’Vondre Campbell
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, the 49ers have signed the former Green Bay Packers All-Pro linebacker.
Campbell, 30, was released by the Packers at the start of the new league year on Wednesday for salary cap purposes.
The former Atlanta Falcons fourth-round pick out of Minnesota has started 110 of 115 games in which he’s appeared with the Falcons, Arizona Cardinals and Packers since entering the NFL back in 2016.
Campbell’s best season came with Green Bay back in 2021 when he earned All-Pro honors. That season saw him record 146 tackles with two forced fumbles and two interceptions. Opposing quarterbacks posted a 74.9 passer rating when targeting him.
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After showing himself solid in coverage back in 2022, Campbell struggled this past season in that regard. He yielded a 111.2 QB rating when targeted. Though, that came on only 25 passes thrown in his direction in 11 games.
For San Francisco, this is a low-cost option to temporarily replace Greenlaw until he returns. Given that Campbell was released, it also doesn’t apply against the NFL Draft compensatory formula. San Francisco has taken advantage of this a lot, including picking up five extra selections in the 2024 NFL Draft.