NFL exec blasts 49ers' offseason free-agency strategy

The San Francisco 49ers were active in free agency, a notable shift from a year ago when much of the team's focus centered on extending core players already on the roster.

Among the 49ers' most significant moves were signing veteran wide receiver Mike Evans, bringing back linebacker Dre Greenlaw, and trading for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa.

While many around the league have praised San Francisco's offseason approach, not everyone is convinced the strategy will pay off. One NFL executive criticized a couple of the additions, suggesting they do nothing to help the roster's image as one of the most injury-prone in the league.

"Everyone starts talking about the substation and, 'Why are we always hurt?'" the executive told The Athletic's Mike Sando. "It's because you sign hurt players. Mike Evans is going to miss 4-6 games this year, Dre Greenlaw is going to miss eight, and you are going to wonder why your players are always hurt."

Evans has been remarkably durable for most of his career, missing just nine regular-season games over his first 10 seasons. However, injuries have become a growing concern recently, with the veteran wideout missing 12 games over the past two years. Last season marked the first time he failed to reach 1,000 receiving yards, as injuries limited him to eight games.

Another NFL executive questioned how well Evans will fit within head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense.

"This guy runs 19 mph," the executive said. "He is a back-shoulder, possession X, which has not been Brock Purdy's game, and he's not going to run in the middle of the field like Jauan Jennings did on those bang 8s (skinny posts) and daggers and the deep-ins, catching it on the go and being a run-after-catch guy."

Still, not all feedback was negative. A third executive viewed the Evans signing as a low-risk, potentially high-reward move. While the deal spans three years, it contains no guaranteed money beyond the 2026 season, effectively making it a one-year commitment with team flexibility beyond that.

"A one-year deal for $14 million—that is low risk," the executive said. "It gives them a big body. You get a vet in that locker room at that position. I do not mind it for a one-year rental."

As for Greenlaw, durability remains a key question. The linebacker has appeared in just 10 games over the past two seasons, including playing only two games for the 49ers in 2024 before departing for a one-year stint with the Denver Broncos.

"Has he gone through some things? Absolutely," general manager John Lynch acknowledged this week. "We feel like we know Dre's body pretty well, and we thought the juice was worth the squeeze."

As for the Odighizuwa trade, there was consensus regarding that move. One executive summed it up: "That was a good get and a total upgrade."