The San Francisco 49ers have been active in free agency, and they started off by landing pass rusher Leonard Floyd, who should give 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa a nice tag-team partner at defensive end.
They were also on the verge of bringing in linebacker Eric Kendricks, but Kendricks reportedly had a change of heart and instead signed with their long-time rivals, the Dallas Cowboys.
San Francisco instead went and got linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, an eight-year veteran who spent the last three years with the Green Bay Packers.
He took to Instagram to say he was “badly misused,” per Matt Schneidman.
De’Vondre Campbell’s recent IG story… pic.twitter.com/w0YbfqxPY2
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) March 15, 2024
In 2023, Campbell had 75 tackles (46 solo) in 11 games for the Packers, and those numbers were somewhat down from his production in 2021, when he was named to the All-Pro First Team.
He has suffered ankle, neck, and knee injuries over the past two seasons, and many feel those ailments are to blame for the drop in his production.
The Niners need someone who can step in and fill the starting linebacker spot alongside Fred Warner, since Dre Greenlaw, the man who has held that spot so well, tore his Achilles during the Super Bowl and will be out for at least part of the 2024 campaign.
Compared to Kendricks, Campbell seems like an underwhelming signing, but it is presumed he will be a starter once next season kicks off this September.
San Francisco’s defense, which was the best in the NFL in 2022, took a step back in 2023, but they hope that a new defensive coordinator in Nick Sorensen, as well as the return of star safety Talanoa Hufanga, will restore their defense’s former prowess.
