Should 49ers revisit signing LB who backed out on deal to sign with rival last offseason?

After spending a third-round pick on a linebacker in this year’s draft, it’s hard to imagine the San Francisco 49ers are interested in getting active at the position on the free agent market.

Their youth at the position left Pro Football and Sports Network unconvinced that the club is set with its current group. PFSN named LB Eric Kendricks as the remaining free agent the 49ers should sign ahead of training camp.

The logic for the move is sound in a vacuum, but it sweeps some realities under the rug. Here’s what PFSN wrote about the match:

Eric Kendricks and the San Francisco 49ers have a bit of history. Last offseason, Kendricks had an agreement in place with San Francisco on a one-year deal before the Cowboys swooped in a stole the veteran linebacker.

He believed he would’ve played more of a reserve role with the Niners and that his experience would’ve been better suited for Dallas. Fast forward to this offseason, and the 49ers could really use his services again.

Fred Warner is still one of the best defensive players in the NFL, regardless of position, but he needs help, especially after Dre Greenlaw’s departure in free agency. Dee Winters is the projected starter at the WILL spot, but he’s far from a rock-solid replacement for Greenlaw. Third-round pick Nick Martin could also compete for a starting job, but Kendricks would offer experience for a defense that took a massive step back in 2024 (26th in Defense+).

Kendricks had an up-and-down 2024 campaign. He remained highly productive against the run, posting a career-high 94 tackles and an impressive 25% tackle rate, but his effectiveness in coverage declined. His liabilities in coverage suggest he’s trending toward a role as an early-down linebacker rather than an every-down defender.

Still, he could provide a boost for a defense that ranked 28th in EPA per rush and 25th in rushing success rate.

The combination of Kendricks spurning the 49ers last offseason and the team’s handful of young players at the position make it nigh impossible to believe this is the route the club would go if it adds another significant free agent before the season begins.

For the sake of argument, let’s say the Kendricks is a player the 49ers do target. It likely wouldn’t be for the Will LB spot PFSN identifies. Kendricks struggled in coverage last season and at age 33 he’s not on track to dramatically improve in that area. If the 49ers did want to add him for help against the run, they’d bring him in as a Sam LB instead where he isn’t typically on the field in passing situations.

Kendricks as a run-stuffing Sam LB makes some sense if we ignore the recent history between him and the 49ers. Winters and Martin are both undersized for the SLB spot, and they’ll compete for the starting WLB job. Their options for a third LB are thin, so a veteran like Kendricks would give them a definite starter and an upgrade in the LB corps.

Alas, that’s a big ask for Kendricks to take on such a limited role. The SLB is on the field for significantly less than half the snaps. He may not be looking for that type of job, particularly since this role would be less than the one he was projected to take last offseason when he turned down the 49ers because he didn’t like the role he was going to play.

It’s not a bad idea on the surface, but Kendricks and the 49ers don’t seem to be destined for a union.

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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL free agents: 49ers, LB Eric Kendricks linked despite rocky history