Most expect the San Francisco 49ers to address the linebacker position in the 2025 NFL Draft following the departure of Dre Greenlaw in free agency. After the Denver Broncos extended an offer to Greenlaw, head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch flew to Texas in a last-ditch effort to convince the linebacker to stay.
"John and I wanted to fly down there and talk to him and give ourselves one last chance," Shanahan said last week.
Their efforts came up short, and Greenlaw ultimately signed with the Broncos, adding linebacker to the lengthy list of key needs for the 49ers heading into the draft.
While targeting a younger, low-cost prospect in the draft seems the most logical route, Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox floated another possibility. In a recent piece naming one remaining free agent who could help each NFL team (h/t to Brad Berreman of Niner Noise), Knox linked veteran linebacker C.J. Mosley to San Francisco.
"The 49ers lost several key contributors early in free agency," Knox explained, "including linebacker Dre Greenlaw. Reloading the linebacker group should still be a priority.
"C.J. Mosley was limited to four games in 2024 by toe and neck injuries. He'll also turn 33 in June. However, he's a five-time Pro Bowler who spent time with the Jets under Robert Saleh—who returned to San Francisco as the defensive coordinator this offseason."
Mosley has spent the last six seasons with the New York Jets, excluding 2020, when he opted out due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Four of those seasons were under Saleh, then the team's head coach.
Mosley has been one of the league's most productive linebackers when healthy. Excluding his injury-shortened 2024 season, he's recorded at least 152 tackles every year since returning to the field in 2021, per Pro Football Reference.
He's also earned a Pro Football Focus defensive grade of at least 72.2 in six of the last eight seasons played. For the 49ers, he could serve as a valuable stopgap option while mentoring a rookie linebacker selected in the upcoming draft.
Originally drafted 17th overall by the Ravens in 2014, Mosley spent his first five NFL seasons in Baltimore before signing with the Jets. Over his career, he's earned five Pro Bowl nods and has been named second-team All-Pro five times.
Saleh knows Mosley well and has likely already provided input on his potential fit in San Francisco's defense. Whether that leads to a reunion remains to be seen.
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