According to a report from famed NFL pundit Ian Rapoport, the Denver Broncos have decided to release linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
Greenlaw, 28, joined the Broncos last offseason after spending the first six years of his career with the San Francisco 49ers. He had inked a three-year deal worth $31.5 million ($11.5 million guaranteed).
The move will reportedly save Denver roughly $4 million in cap space as the team aims to retool its roster.
The tenure was a disappointing one for Greenlaw and the Broncos. Injured for the first six games of the season with a sore quad, Greenlaw never fully was able to find his footing in Denver. However, when available, the Arkansas native was a fixture within the defense, accruing 43 tackles, one sack, and 2.0 TFL in eight regular season games. Greenlaw also played in both of Denver's postseason contests (notching 10 total tackles).
It will be interesting to see the market for Greenlaw given his versatility and talent. He was a major piece of San Francisco's defensive scheme for years prior to tearing an Achilles in 2023. Greenlaw had back-to-back years with over 120 tackles from 2022-23.
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Much of his production came from possessing elite quickness and a real nose for the football. Greenlaw in particular demonstrated a willingness to crash towards the line of scrimmage en route to the ball carrier.
Could a reunion in the Bay with the 49ers occur? Given how poor San Francisco's defense was a season ago, head coach Kyle Shanahan surely would welcome Greenlaw back with open arms. He's enough years away from the Achilles injury to think he can once again be an impact player in this league.
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