The San Francisco 49ers are staring down an offseason full of big decisions, and in a division as competitive as the NFC West, there’s no room for sentimentality without strategy. That said, a couple of familiar names-Deebo Samuel and Dre Greenlaw-are starting to float back into the conversation, and there’s at least some logic behind it.
Let’s start with Samuel. The versatile wide receiver is back on the market after a season with the Washington Commanders, and his name has already been linked to a potential return to the Bay. George Kittle even hinted at the possibility, and when a team leader like Kittle speaks, people listen.
Samuel’s 2025 season wasn’t elite, but it wasn’t a wash either. He posted 727 receiving yards and five touchdowns-solid production, especially compared to his final season in San Francisco.
But at 30 years old, and with a history of physical play that’s taken its toll, he’s no longer the explosive threat he once was. The speed that made him such a nightmare in space has dipped, and that changes how you use him in a modern offense.
If the 49ers are seriously considering bringing him back, it would need to be on a team-friendly deal. They already paid him once, and didn’t exactly get the return they hoped for. A short-term, incentive-laden contract makes sense-something that allows Samuel to prove he still has gas in the tank without tying up too much cap space.
Same goes for Dre Greenlaw. The hard-hitting linebacker is coming off an injury-riddled season in Denver, where he managed to play just eight games.
His stat line-43 tackles, a pick, a sack, and a couple of tackles for loss-shows he can still make plays when healthy. But that’s the key phrase: when healthy.
Injuries have been a recurring theme in Greenlaw’s career, and that’s not something you can ignore when building out a defense.
The upside? San Francisco knows exactly what Greenlaw brings when he’s on the field.
He’s a tone-setter, a sideline-to-sideline presence who plays with fire. And with Dee Winters showing real growth in 2025, the 49ers wouldn’t need to lean on Greenlaw for every down.
That kind of depth could make the linebacker corps one of the league’s best-if the price is right.
The challenge with both players is balancing nostalgia with need. Yes, they’ve been fan favorites.
Yes, they know the system. But if the 49ers are serious about making another deep playoff push, they can’t rely on past versions of these players.
They have to build for what’s next.
If Samuel returns, he can’t be the only addition at wide receiver. The 49ers need speed-pure, game-breaking speed-and they’ll likely need to look to the draft, free agency, or even the trade market to find it. Samuel could be a useful piece, especially in a WR2 or WR3 role, but he can’t be the centerpiece anymore.
Same with Greenlaw. If he’s healthy, he’s a difference-maker. But with his injury history, the team needs to protect itself-both financially and with depth behind him.
Bringing back Samuel and Greenlaw could work. It could even be a savvy move, the kind of low-risk, high-reward play that good front offices pull off.
But it has to be done with eyes wide open. This isn’t about sentiment-it’s about fit, cost, and whether these vets can still help a team that’s built to win now.
