San Francisco 49ers sign Dre Greenlaw

Dre Greenlaw's one-year, $6M signing earns a B Contract Value Index (CVI)—a solid value play for a linebacker reunion that addresses immediate depth without overpaying for proved availability. At $6M AAV on a one-year deal, the 49ers are betting on Greenlaw as a starting-caliber defender capable of anchoring their interior linebacker room, a role requiring both physicality and scheme versatility that commands mid-tier market rates. The single-year structure is the smart architecture here: it avoids long-term cap commitments while keeping flexibility to pivot if injury history resurfaces, which has been the core question mark shadowing his career. The CVI reflects neither a bargain nor a reach—it's a pragmatic middle ground that says the 49ers value his proven scheme fit and recent health enough to commit low-risk money, but not so much that they're mortgaging future cap space on unproven durability. With the team sitting at 12-5 and fighting for playoff positioning, the organization is clearly signaling confidence that Greenlaw can contribute at an above-average starter tier this season, and the contract structure allows them to validate that bet without penalty if he can't.