The 49ers could add an inexpensive-yet-quality linebacker to immediately fill the void left by Dre Greenlaw’s free-agent departure.
In an ideal world, the San Francisco 49ers would replace now-Denver Broncos linebacker via the same means they acquired him in the first place: using a day-three NFL Draft pick on a player 31 other teams overlooked up to that point, then turning said player into a star in year one.
Of course, following that same course of action isn’t exactly easy. Despite being one of the many fifth-round gems the Niners have identified in recent years, replicating Greenlaw’s ascent in the 2025 draft is far from a sure thing.
Especially considering San Francisco boasts a plethora of other roster needs following a major offseason exodus of talent, including Greenlaw.
True, the 49ers are aiming to get both younger and cheaper entering 2025, and the draft is an excellent means to do so.
However, considering the context, it might be wise for the Niners to shore up roster holes by grabbing some low-budget free agents.
And there’s one name linked to San Francisco who might be able to immediately replace Greenlaw.
PFN tabs Jalen Reeves-Maybin as 49ers’ ideal replacement for Dre Greenlaw
Pro Football Network’s Mark Stolte compiled a list of the one free agent each team could sign right now to bolster their respective rosters.
For the 49ers, the player selected was Jalen Reeves-Maybin, a 30-year-old veteran linebacker who spent seven of his eight pro seasons with the Detroit Lions (interrupted by a one-year stint with the Houston Texans in 2022).
A 2023 Pro Bowler, Maybin encompasses many of the traits Greenlaw took with him to the AFC West, as Stolte described:
“In his limited playing time the last two seasons on the Lions, Jalen Reeves-Maybin has been solid in different areas at the linebacker position. In 2023, he graded out as one of the best run defenders with a missed tackle rate of 9.3% (53rd/90). In 2024, he graded out as a solid coverage linebacker, allowing just 13 catches on 108 coverage snaps. He would add some much-needed depth behind star linebacker Fred Warner.”
Sure, Reeves-Maybin doesn’t exactly fit the bill when it comes to getting on the younger side. But, the Niners aren’t going to be able to solve every available roster hole strictly through the draft, and relying too heavily on rookie talent is a risky proposition anyway.
It’s possible San Francisco is already eyeing Reeves-Maybin as a contingency plan, should it not land its preferred Greenlaw replacement over the course of the draft, beginning on April 24. And there’s a better-than-good chance the former would arrive on a relatively affordable deal, too.
If so, the 49ers likely don’t view the former Tennessee standout as anything more than a quick stopgap option to pair with Warner until someone younger and Greenlaw-esque could be ushered into the fray.
In the interim, Reeves-Maybin makes a lot of sense.
