The Worst Addition of the Offseason for the 49ers
The 49ers overpaid for zero players this offseason, which is good. They were prudent and fiscally responsible. Still, some of their signings were better than others.
This is about the worst signing of the offseason for the 49ers.
Before I reveal his name, let me preface by writing that he may very well have been the best player available for the price at his position. You can't always find cheap upgrades in free agency. But he's a major downgrade in the starting lineup for the 49ers.
I'm talking about linebacker De'Vondre Campbell.
To be fair, he wasn't the 49ers' first choice. They had an agreement with Eric Kendircks on a one-year deal, but he backed out of it at the last minute to sign a two-year deal with the Cowboys. Kendricks is a good player and would have been an excellent signing, but he got a better offer from Dallas.
And the only reason the 49ers are in the market for a linebacker is because Dre Greenlaw tore his Achilles in the Super Bowl and it's unclear how much of the upcoming season he will miss. So the 49ers need a linebacker who can start for some or all of it.
Enter Campbell. He'll be 31 in July and he was an All Pro in 2021, but the past two seasons he was a frequently-injured liability for the Packers defense. Now he instantly becomes the weakest link on the 49ers defense.
The 49ers need to draft a linebacker who can start. Campbell can't be their only addition at this position.
