Kendricks rejects the 49ers and chooses to sign with the Cowboys.
On Wednesday, the story of the 49ers’ 2024 NFL free-agency took an unexpected turn.
Free-agent linebacker Eric Kendricks is anticipated to sign with the Dallas Cowboys after allegedly reaching an agreement with the 49ers, an insider told Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area. Adam Schefter of ESPN broke the story first.
With this move, Kendricks is back together with Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who served as the Minnesota Vikings’ head coach from 2015 to 2021.
Schefter had stated on Wednesday that Kendricks and San Francisco had reached an agreement.
Even though it seemed like the 49ers had found a seasoned player to man the middle of their defense, San Francisco will need to go elsewhere for additional linebacker support while Dre Greenlaw heals from his Super Bowl LVIII achilles injury.
According to reports, a well-known player on the 49ers’ defensive line will stay in the Bay for at least one more season.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday, defensive tackle Kevin Givens, who joined San Francisco as an undrafted free agent in 2019, is returning to the team on a one-year contract in NFL free agency.
Givens has played in 57 regular-season games for the 49ers, starting 13, and recording 79 tackles (45 solo), three passes defended, and 12 quarterback hits in those five seasons. During the 2023 NFL season, the 27-year-old made one start against the Arizona Cardinals, registering four tackles, including one for loss.
Givens agreed to two one-year contract extensions with San Francisco in 2022 and 2023. It seems that he continued that pattern this offseason, coming back to the 49ers as a crucial depth player along the defensive line.
