The year after a Super Bowl loss is rarely smooth, and for the San Francisco 49ers, 2024 was one to forget. The team was plagued by injuries across all units and saw once-crucial players like Deebo Samuel decline in performance, prompting a wave of changes this offseason.
With free agency and the draft behind them, the core that reached the Super Bowl in 2023 no longer looks the same. However, the 49ers are betting on the return of a familiar face to help fix the defense, and he may want to bring in another veteran still available on the market, one who was once very close to signing with San Francisco.
49ers Predicted To Sign Eric Kendricks Ahead of 2025 Season
The identity of the 49ers has long been defined by a brand of physicality that wears down opponents and an offensive system nearly impossible to stop when in rhythm. Those were the trademarks of a team that, since 2019, reached two Super Bowls and two more NFC championship games, always coming painfully close to winning it all.
In 2024, that identity wavered. While injuries played a role, so did the emotional toll of repeatedly falling short of Kyle Shanahan’s long-pursued goal: a championship in San Francisco. This led to a roster shakeup, and among the most painful departures was linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
To address the void, the team drafted Nick Martin, but he’s still viewed more as a developmental prospect than a Week 1 starter. That’s why a veteran like Eric Kendricks makes sense as a stopgap in Robert Saleh’s system, which demands intelligence and physicality at linebacker.
Saleh previously coached the 49ers, leading the defense during their 2019 Super Bowl run, where they dominated with hard-hitting, run-stopping linebackers. Kendricks would be a seamless fit in a rotation that currently includes Dee Winters and Martin next to Fred Warner.
Eric Kendricks picks off Bryce Young!
📺: #DALvsCAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/7VGaw9BOE4— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024
Kendricks spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys and was reportedly close to joining the 49ers during the initial wave of free agency. However, he ultimately chose to sign with San Francisco’s longtime rival, drawn by the opportunity to play a more prominent role throughout the year. Now, with Greenlaw’s departure, the starting job is once again up for grabs, and Kendricks joining the 49ers feels like a very real possibility.
Sterling Xie highlighted in his article for PFSN, predicting one free agent each team could still sign before the season kicks off, how Kendricks could integrate into Saleh’s scheme early and help instill the defensive identity the coach is aiming to rebuild — one that relies on veteran leadership as much as raw talent.
“Kendricks had an up-and-down 2024 campaign. He remained highly productive against the run, posting a career-high 94 tackles and an impressive 25% tackle rate, but his effectiveness in coverage declined. His liabilities in coverage suggest he’s trending toward a role as an early-down linebacker rather than an every-down defender,” Xie wrote.
The 49ers’ defense struggled on multiple fronts last season, ranking 28th in EPA per rush and 25th in rushing success rate. Opponents consistently found success on the ground against San Francisco, exposing a major flaw that wore the unit down over the course of games.
Additionally, the defense finished 26th in the PFSN Defense+ metric, a clear sign the unit underperformed across the board. With several key departures this offseason, there’s legitimate concern about how the defense will hold up in 2025.
The hope now rests on Robert Saleh’s ability to revive what was once the hallmark of 49ers dominance: physical, suffocating defense. And to do that, every bit of help will be needed.