Breaking-News: $31 Million ‘Total Savage’ Draws Significant Praise After Joining Broncos

Broncos Land High-Upside LB Dre Greenlaw Despite Injury Concerns

The Denver Broncos pulled off a move many teams were aiming for this offseason: signing standout linebacker Dre Greenlaw in free agency. The 28-year-old brings both elite potential and a proven track record, even as he recovers from a serious injury.

Greenlaw spent his first six NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and was a major contributor when healthy. Despite a torn Achilles suffered during Super Bowl LVIII — which limited him to just two games in 2024 — Denver still made a big investment, signing him to a three-year, $31.5 million deal.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, that move signals how highly Greenlaw is viewed across the league. “Several league evaluators called him the most exciting free agent,” Fowler wrote on July 15. “And when the Broncos landed him, there was real regret coming out of San Francisco.”

Originally a fifth-round pick in 2019, Greenlaw posted back-to-back seasons with over 120 tackles in 2022 and 2023, playing 15 games in each. His aggressive, explosive play style has drawn rave reviews — but also contributed to his injury history.

Niners Tried to Keep Him

Greenlaw’s departure wasn’t something the 49ers took lightly. In a last-ditch effort to keep him, both GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan personally visited Greenlaw before his agreement with Denver became official. One team source told Fowler the regret over losing him was “one-million percent real.”

An NFL defensive coordinator praised Greenlaw as a “total savage” and a top-five linebacker when healthy. “He’s a badass — smart, powerful, and hits like a truck,” the coach said. “He’s always hurt because of how violently he plays.”

Even his former teammate Fred Warner — ESPN’s No. 1 linebacker for a second straight year — called it a privilege to have shared the field with Greenlaw. “He’s just getting started,” Warner told The Denver Post in March. “Unfortunately for us, the Broncos got him at the perfect time.”

Adding to the intrigue: Greenlaw and the Broncos will face his old team in the 2025 preseason opener.

Injury Flare-Up Raises Eyebrows

Greenlaw gave the Broncos an early scare when rumors surfaced he had torn his quad during the offseason. However, the team quickly clarified that it was only a strain and that Greenlaw is expected to be ready for training camp on July 22. He still missed most of the offseason program, but appears on track for a return.

Head coach Sean Payton defended the team’s approach to player health and injury prevention, citing impressive internal data. “We ranked first in the league for lowest injury totals last year, and second this year,” Payton said in January. “When you go from 134 missed games due to injury down to 30-something two years in a row — that’s no accident.”

Greenlaw now joins a Denver defense looking to make a leap — and if he stays on the field, the Broncos may have landed one of the biggest steals of the offseason.