Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner formed arguably the best linebacker duo in the NFL. However, that dynamic will change in 2024 after Greenlaw suffered a torn Achilles during last month's Super Bowl defeat.
The injury will significantly impact the San Francisco 49ers' plans for the upcoming season. With Greenlaw expected to miss most—if not all—of the team's 2024 campaign, all options are on the table.
"Maybe those contingency plans were last year with the two rookies that we drafted, Dee Winters and Jalen Graham," general manager John Lynch said last week at the NFL Scouting Combine. "Can they take that step, or do we need to go insulate them? Those are decisions we have to make, and we're constantly looking into those things, seeing if we feel comfortable or do we need to add to the equation."
If the team opts for the free-agency route, a reunion with Azeez Al-Shaair might be possible. Al-Shaair signed a one-year deal with the Tennessee Titans in 2023, tallying an impressive 163 tackles, including nine for a loss, two sacks, six quarterback hits, and four passes defensed.
"It turns out that playing on a stacked 49ers defense for his first four pro seasons wasn't what made Al-Shaair a difference-maker against the run," NFL Media's Gregg Rosenthal wrote in his free-agency evaluation of Al-Shaair. "After signing a one-year prove-it deal in Tennessee in 2023, Al-Shaair was reliable amid a difficult situation with the Titans."
Al-Shaair started 13 games for the 49ers in 2021, racking up 102 tackles, including nine for a loss, two quarterback hits, an interception, two sacks, five passes defensed, and a forced fumble. This showcased his ability to make defensive plays when given the opportunity.
Warner didn't blame Al-Shaair for leaving the 49ers last year, wishing the best for his then-teammate.
"I want him to go be somewhere where he can be the guy," Warner said ahead of free agency last year. "For as long as he's here, unfortunately, I'm here. He wants to go be the Fred Warner somewhere else. Not to toot my own horn, but he certainly wants to go be the guy. And I want that for him. He deserves it. He's capable of it."
Depending on his market and desire to return to the 49ers, Al-Shaair could be a viable option to temporarily replace Greenlaw, reuniting him with his former teammates in Santa Clara.
