LB Dre Greenlaw, Broncos agree to terms on 3-year, $35 million deal: Sources

Veteran linebacker Dre Greenlaw has agreed to terms with the Denver Broncos, according to a league source. The three-year deal is worth $35 million, according to a team source.

The Athletic’s Mike Silver reported earlier in the day that the Broncos were among several teams — along with the San Francisco 49ers, the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans — interested in the defensive standout.

Greenlaw is the second former 49ers defensive player to agree to terms with the Broncos. Safety Talanoa Hufanga agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $45 million, according to league sources.

Greenlaw, who will turn 28 in May, is the top linebacker and No. 8 overall player on The Athletic’s most recent top 150 NFL free agent rankings. When available, he remains an elite linebacker with pass coverage ability when healthy. However, injuries have limited his production over the last 13 months and forced him to miss 36 games across his first six seasons, all with the 49ers.

After tearing his Achilles tendon while running onto the field in Super Bowl LVIII last February, Greenlaw returned for two games in Weeks 15 and 16 last season. But issues with his left knee and calf — the same leg as the repaired Achilles — flared up and ended his 2024 season.

The 2019 fifth-round draft pick has racked up 455 tackles, 14 pass breakups, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two defensive touchdowns in 64 career games.

When healthy, Greenlaw has been one of the most disruptive linebackers in the NFL. Even while playing only 34 snaps last season, Greenlaw picked up nine tackles and demonstrated the side-to-side ability that Denver was coveting for coordinator Vance Joseph’s defense. He’ll immediately fit into a starting role, likely alongside fellow veteran Alex Singleton, who should be ready for training camp after suffering an ACL tear in Week 3 last season. The Broncos also have expressed confidence that third-year player Drew Sanders can play a role at the position.

But Greenlaw brings different traits to the position. In 2023, he had 120 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks during the regular season and added two interceptions in the playoffs before suffering an Achilles tear while running onto the field early in the Super Bowl. Greenlaw missed most of last season while he recovered from the injury, then injured his calf during his second game back.

Greenlaw had multiple suitors when the negotiating period began Monday, a sign teams were comfortable with how he’s recovered from his injuries. The Broncos have shown an appetite for risk this offseason. In addition to agreeing to a deal with Greenlaw, the Broncos earlier Monday reached an agreement with Hufanga, who has missed 17 games the past two seasons due to injuries.

The Broncos also hosted tight end Evan Engram on a visit Monday and could sign the tight end who missed eight games due to hamstring and labrum injuries last season and who was released by the Jaguars last week with a failed physical designation.

The Broncos clearly have belief in an injury prevention and maintenance plan that has helped them miss among the fewest combined games by starters during the past two seasons. With Greenlaw, in particular, the Broncos needed to take the chance to upgrade their linebacker situation. The playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills illustrated the team’s overall need for more athleticism and coverage ability at the spot. If he’s the player he was for the 49ers during their NFC Championship season in 2023 — and there’s fair reason for concern given how last season unfolded — the Broncos will have gone a long way toward addressing weaknesses in the middle of their defense.

The Broncos entered Monday with roughly $40 million in free agency. They have since agreed to terms on sizable deals with Greenlaw, Hufanga (three years, up to $45 million; $20 million guaranteed); defensive tackle D.J. Jones (three years, $39 million; $26 million guaranteed) and backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham (two years, $12 million; $7 million guaranteed).

We’ll need to see the specifics of those deals to know exactly what remaining spending power the Broncos have left, but they should have plenty left to sign Engram if the visit goes well for both sides and perhaps make a couple of other minor moves, like signing a new punter.

The Broncos have made it clear in one day of free agency negotiating that they believe they are close to the other contenders in the AFC. You don’t give up big money for inside linebackers and safety without feeling like you have the premium positions locked down. Denver has a much better idea of who it is than it did this time last season when moves with the associated injury risk like the ones they made Monday would have made much less sense.

Free agency comes with few guarantees. But the Broncos identified safety and inside linebacker as areas of major need — and they believe they’ve gone a long way toward turning those weaknesses into strengths.

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(Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

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