San Francisco 49ers sign Dre Greenlaw

The 49ers' one-year, $6M deal for Dre Greenlaw earns a C+ CVI, representing a fair market transaction with modest upside potential. At $6M AAV, San Francisco pays above-average starter money for a linebacker coming off a serious Achilles injury that sidelined him for most of the 2023 season, making this neither a bargain nor an overpay given the injury risk. The fully guaranteed structure reflects the reality of Greenlaw's situation — he needed security while proving his health, and the Niners needed to retain a key piece of their elite defense without committing long-term resources to an uncertainty. This CVI grade aligns with recent deals for solid starting linebackers in similar circumstances, though it's on the higher end considering the injury concerns. The one-year commitment provides San Francisco with crucial cap flexibility while betting on Greenlaw's return to his pre-injury form as a reliable run defender and coverage linebacker in their system. For Greenlaw, this represents a prove-it opportunity to cash in on a larger deal next offseason, while the 49ers maintain their defensive continuity without handcuffing their future salary cap.