In the chaotic whirlwind of NFL free agency, money usually talks, but sometimes, the timing of the conversation matters more than the actual dollar amount. That’s the bizarre reality behind why Dre Greenlaw is currently wearing a Denver Broncos jersey despite the San Francisco 49ers reportedly offering him more money to stay in the Bay Area.
It sounds backwards. Usually, if a team "outbids" another, they get the player. But in Greenlaw's case, the 49ers' late-game heroics were a classic case of too little, too late.
The 49ers Outbid the Broncos for Dre Greenlaw: The Timeline of a "Failed" Victory
Basically, the 49ers didn't start the negotiation at the top of their lungs. When free agency kicked off in early 2025, San Francisco’s initial approach was... cautious. Understandably so. Greenlaw was coming off a brutal Achilles tear suffered in the Super Bowl—an injury that is notoriously difficult for explosive linebackers to return from.
The Niners initially floated a one-year "prove it" deal. They wanted to see if the "Big Play Dre" they knew was still there.
Meanwhile, Denver Broncos GM George Paton and head coach Sean Payton didn't hesitate. They saw a defense that got shredded by the run in the 2024 playoffs and decided Greenlaw was the missing piece to their culture. They put a three-year, $31.5 million contract on the table with $11.5 million fully guaranteed.
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The Texas Trip That Didn't Work
Once John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan realized the Broncos were serious, the panic set in. Reports surfaced—and were later confirmed by Greenlaw’s own inner circle—that the 49ers' brass actually flew out to Greenlaw’s home in Texas.
This was the "last-ditch effort." They reportedly upped their offer, eventually surpassing Denver’s $10.5 million annual average. They were willing to pay the premium to keep the Fred Warner-Dre Greenlaw duo intact.
But as Greenlaw’s adopted father, Brian Early, famously noted later, "The damage is done."
By the time the 49ers showed that level of commitment, Greenlaw had already mentally moved on. He felt slighted by the initial lack of a long-term offer. He saw the 49ers letting other key pieces walk and sensed the team was in a bit of a transition phase. Denver offered him a fresh start, a lead role in a rising defense, and most importantly, they offered it first.
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Why Denver Won Despite Paying Less
You've got to look at the psychology of an NFL locker room. Players want to feel valued. When the 49ers hesitated, it opened a door that Sean Payton slammed his foot into.
- The "Fresh Start" Factor: Greenlaw’s agent, J.R. Carroll, mentioned that Dre was looking for a new environment after six years in San Francisco.
- The Defensive Revamp: Denver didn't just grab Greenlaw; they also snagged safety Talanoa Hufanga. The chance to move to a new city with a familiar teammate was a massive draw.
- The Disrespect Quotient: In a league where "Availability is the best ability," the 49ers' initial one-year offer felt like a lack of faith in Greenlaw's recovery.
The Reality of the 2025-2026 Season
Honestly, looking back from January 2026, the move has been a bit of a rollercoaster. Greenlaw struggled with health for a large chunk of the 2025 season, appearing in only eight regular-season games due to various lingering issues, including a hamstring pull late in the year.
Yet, as the Broncos prepare for their 2026 home playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, the investment is finally paying off. Greenlaw is back at full strength. Coach Sean Payton has praised his "tone-setting" ability, and Denver’s defense finished the year ranked near the top of the league in red zone efficiency.
The 49ers, on the other hand, have spent the 2025 season scrambling. They've dealt with a revolving door at linebacker, even relying on guys like Garret Wallow (who, ironically, spent time in Denver with Dre earlier this year).
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Was It the Right Move for the 49ers?
Hindsight is 20/20, but the 49ers’ hesitation might have been the smartest "loss" they ever took, or their biggest mistake.
On one hand, they avoided paying a massive contract to a player who missed half the following season. On the other, they lost the emotional heartbeat of their defense. If you've watched the 49ers this year, you can see the gap. They miss that "controlled violence" that Greenlaw brought to the second level.
Denver took the risk. They paid the money early. They showed the love. And now, they have a healthy Dre Greenlaw leading them into a Divisional Round matchup while the 49ers are left wondering "what if" regarding that trip to Texas.
If you are tracking the impact of this move for your playoff brackets or future salary cap projections, keep a close eye on Greenlaw's snap counts this postseason. His performance against high-IQ quarterbacks like Josh Allen will determine if Denver’s $31.5 million gamble was a masterstroke or a cap-clogging error. For now, the "damage" the 49ers did to the relationship remains the cautionary tale of the 2025 offseason.