It was widely reported earlier this week that the Denver Broncos were planning to release veteran linebacker Randy Gregory, who the team signed ahead of the 2022 season on a five-year, $70 million contract but has ultimately failed to live up to that deal.
Gregory missed the majority of his first year with the team due to injury, and he’s only appeared in 10 games with just three sacks since joining the team. He was removed from Denver’s starting lineup in Week 4, signaling the team planned to move on.
The Broncos threw the league a curveball, however, as they ultimately found a trade partner in the San Francisco 49ers.
Gregory will be shipped off to a San Francisco team that is 4-0 and seen by many as the early Super Bowl favorites. General manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan hope to revive the 30-year-old’s career and bolster a scoring defense that already ranks third in the league while sitting at fifth in total defense.
A second-round pick in 2015 for the Cowboys, availability has been a concern for Gregory, who has never played a full season due to a combination of suspensions and injuries. When on the field, however, he’s been fairly productive. He totaled six sacks in both the 2018 and 2021 seasons despite playing in just 14 and 12 games, respectively.
The 49ers are looking for that level of production coming off the bench as they search for their first world championship since 1994.
Let’s break down who won the surprising trade between the 49ers and Broncos.