Mile High Report
Should Denver try to sign the former San Francisco stud linebacker?
The Broncos’ defense surprisingly took the league by storm in 2024, leaving many under-informed commentators wondering how a defense this good had given up 70 points in a game just the previous year.
Despite the defensive excellence in 2024, there are numerous holes across the D that need talent upgrades, and none is more dire than at inside linebacker.
Denver primarily started Cody Barton and Justin Strnad at inside linebacker last year and both are free agents. Planned starter Alex Singleton tore his ACL in the third game of the season, and while news of his progress has been promising, ACLs can often slow a player down in their first season back. Furthermore, the Broncos save almost all of Singleton’s contract by releasing him. The 31-year-old struggled with missed tackles and in coverage in 2023 and is generally not considered a premium player.
Denver could easily sign two ILBs and draft one early without stressing the depth chart.
Age: 27 | Experience: Ninth | Height: 6’0” | Weight: 230 pounds
A big name in free agency is Dre Greenlaw, the dynamic inside linebacker from the San Francisco 49ers who absolutely terrorized opponents in 2022 and 2023, and for most of us was last seen leaving Super Bowl XVIII after rupturing his Achilles tendon.
In his career, Greenlaw has been a solid 1B with Fred Warner for the San Francisco 49ers. He has flown all over the field and has absolutely dominated in coverage. San Francisco plays primarily a wide-9 style defense that leaves big gaps for the ILBs to fill, and he has absolutely thrived in the space that defense gave him.
Denver was excellent in coverage in 2024 anytime Surtain was in the direction of the play or against tight ends, but had horrible issues covering running backs. Greenlaw will instantly transform our biggest weakness into a strength. Denver’s excellent pass rush, plus Surtain taking away first reads and Greenlaw taking away second reads, looks extremely potent.
There are three risks — injury, 1b, and scheme.
First is the injury. He tried and failed to come back from his Achilles tear this year. There is never any guarantee a player can be special after injury, and the difference between special and slow is very small.
The second is that Greenlaw has never been the premium ILB in San Francisco. Fred Warner is steadily working his way to Canton, so being an excellent second fiddle to him is no diss, but it makes it harder for us to evaluate Greenlaw. Offensive coordinators generally did not make specific efforts to game plan around Greenlaw, as the SF defenses had more talented players that needed focus in Warner and Nick Bosa. It is really easy to misvalue players with sensational teammates, especially at the same position group.
The third is...
