Change of mind. Linebacker Eric Kendricks, with whom the San Francisco 49ers agreed to a contract on Wednesday, has decided not to sign with the 49ers in favor of a contract with the Dallas Cowboys. Kendricks was a great deal for the 49ers at the time.
He was supposed to replace Dre Greenlaw, who is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. Kendricks replacing Greenlaw would close the gap, but he’s now headed to Dallas. As much as it hurts to be fooled, it makes perfect sense for Kendricks to sign with the Cowboys instead of the 49ers.
First of all, whatever he ends up getting (I’m sure it’s more than the 49ers’ offer), he’ll essentially end up making more since Texas has no state income tax. His salary would have gone down if he played for the 49ers.
Therefore, he could benefit more by playing in Dallas. Second, he is getting more comfortable under the tutelage of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. Kendricks played for Zimmer during his time with the Minnesota Vikings from 2015 to 2021. This relationship is clearly very important to Kendricks, and in fact, many free agents use it when deciding to sign with a team. Finally, Kendricks can remain the Cowboys’ starter indefinitely. He wouldn’t have been able to accomplish that with the 49ers.
He was simply intended to be a replacement for Greenlaw. If he plays well he might live longer, but that’s not guaranteed. And what if Greenlaw recovers surprisingly quickly? At least in Dallas, he can be the starter without worrying about who’s behind him. It’s a one-year deal, so playing time means everything to him in 2024.
He will be a free agent again, so it would be best for him to maximize his playing time and be on a team with a coach he trusts when he becomes a free agent in 2025. The 49ers will now look for another veteran placeholder, but this could be a sign that they will select young linebackers Dee Winters and Jaylen Graham.
