The San Francisco 49ers made a few improvements to the roster this offseason, as they used their cap space to sign wide receiver Mike Evans and linebacker Dre Greenlaw, while trading for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa.
Evans should instantly improve San Francisco’s wide receiver core, which didn’t have a receiver top 650 yards last season. He’s been one of the most consistent receivers of the past decade, and gives a proven veteran to a room filled with youngsters.
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Greenlaw doesn’t need much of an introduction. He and Fred Warner were one of the most exciting and productive linebacker duos before Greenlaw departed in free agency for a three-year deal with the Denver Broncos last season. But injuries hampered the linebacker, and he lasted only one season in Denver before being released.
Now, he’s back in San Francisco and will look to be one of the better run-defending linebackers once again in 2026, with Kyle Shanahan essentially confirming he’d be the starter opposite Fred Warner after the signing.
Odighizuwa should also help with the team’s run defense, while also being a quality pass rusher, which the 49ers didn’t have on the interior last season.
When it comes to newcomers on defense, those two should certainly be key contributors, as will returners Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, who are returning from torn ACL injuries.
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Last week, in our weekly Reacts poll, we asked who would have a bigger impact on the 49ers in 2026 between Greenlaw and Williams. Well, the results were pretty favorable to the veteran.
When looking at the impact both would have, run defense is the clear area that needs improvement. Now, the 49ers weren’t great in the air either due to their lack of pass rush, but the 49ers were 20th in yards allowed per carry last season (4.3 yards).
Over the first half of the season, Williams had proven to be a quality run defender, as we noted last week
“Mykel’s calling card was playing the run. With Williams on the field, the 49ers allowed a 42% success rate and an explosive run rate of just 4.9%. Without him, those numbers shot up to 52.9% and 11.8%. That’s how much of an impact the rookie had in the running game, and something that was sorely missed in the playoffs and down the stretch.”
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Williams was always considered a player who still had a lot of development left, but he came into the NFL with a high floor thanks to his efforts as a run defender. We saw that impact directly in Year 1, and that should only continue to improve in Year 2.
Greenlaw, on the other hand, has been a proven run defender who has a knack for impact plays. Yes, he only played eight games last year for the Broncos after two games with the 49ers in 2024, but Greenlaw was impactful in his short stint as a run defender and will now be playing alongside Fred Warner.
FanDuel Sportsbook currently gives the 49ers the third-best odds to win the NFC next season behind the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks. If that’s to happen, the 49ers are going to need both defenders to step up in 2026, especially in the run game.
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