Turf Show Times
Would Rams steal Dre Greenlaw from 49ers?
Would Sean McVay entertain stealing a key piece of the 49ers from friend Kyle Shanahan? In a post of best free agent fits at CBS Sports, Niners linebacker Dre Greenlaw is the player of choice when it came to the L.A. Rams. Needing an upgrade to their linebacker corps (again), would Les Snead consider signing a player who still hasn’t proven that he can bounce back from a torn Achilles suffered in last year’s Super Bowl?
The Rams made the playoffs last season despite ranking 25th in defensive EPA. They need to work on that side of the ball and could use some help at linebacker with starters Christian Rozeboom and Troy Reeder both hitting free agency. Greenlaw is a three-down linebacker who is excellent against the run. Sean McVay has played against him plenty and may relish a chance to coach him.
The 27-year-old Greenlaw only played in two games last season due to the extended absence caused by his freakish Achilles injury.
But the year before that, he posted 120 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 4 pass deflections, 5 tackles for a loss, and four QB hits. In Greenlaw’s return to the field in 2024, he actually posted eight tackles against the Rams.
The biggest issue for any Rams fans hoping that Snead and McVay will target a linebacker in free agency?
There’s no apparent sign that the Rams think linebacker is an important position.
The team has not tried to make any splashes at the position other than Bobby Wagner, who was considered past his prime when he signed in 2022 and then he was released after only one season with L.A.. When it came time to re-sign Cory Littleton, the Rams said no thanks.
What’s going to change this time?
The Rams have continuously gone cheap at the position, from Troy Reeder to Christian Rozeboom to going back to Reeder again in 2024. Rozeboom had 135 tackles last season with a couple of splash plays, but certainly won’t be confused with an All-Pro.
That being said, Snead has a clear preference for certain types of players and linebacker hasn’t been one of those priorities. Could Greenlaw be the one to change his mind?
