The 49ers Still Must Improve Their Run Defense

When healthy, Greenlaw is the 49ers' fastest linebacker and most violent tackler. The run defense simply isn't the same without him.

One of the 49ers' biggest weaknesses last season was their run defense, and it's still a weakness.

This offseason, they released Arik Armstead, who was their best run defender when healthy. To be fair, he hasn't been fully healthy since 2021, so the 49ers made the right decision to release him, but they still will miss his run defense, because his replacement, Maliek Collins, is more of a pass rusher than a run defender. Same for Leonard Floyd, who will replace Chase Young as the starting defensive end opposite Nick Bosa.

The 49ers did address their run defense by signing rotational backup defensive linemen Jordan Elliott and Yetur Gross-Matos. Those two should help. But don't forget the 49ers lost starting linebacker Dre Greenlaw to a torn Achilles in the Super Bowl and the team doesn't know when he will be able to return to full strength.

When healthy, Greenlaw is the 49ers' fastest linebacker and most violent tackler. The run defense simply isn't the same without him. And to replace him while he's out, the 49ers signed De'Vondre Campbell, who's much better in pass coverage than run defense. Last season he was with the Packers, whose defense gave up a putrid 2,181 yards on the ground, and Campbell was a big reason why.

If Campbell has to start lots of games for the 49ers next season, their run defense will be in trouble. So they have to hope Greenlaw misses zero time, or they have to draft a linebacker who's good enough to start and stuff the run as a rookie.

We'll see what the 49ers decide to do.