While it was hard to see both Deebo Samuel and Dre Greenlaw depart the San Francisco 49ers after the 2024 season.
The fact that both are back in the fold now is the best-case scenario for the Niners, and it's hard to argue both Samuel and Greenlaw learned a valuable lesson: a change of scenery isn't always what's best.
It seems both players loved their first stint with San Francisco, but both felt like they had reached a point where it was time to spread their wings and see if they could fly with a different team.
Samuel requested a trade and went to the Washington Commanders where he had a decent (but not spectacular) year, hauling in 72 passes for 727 yards and six total touchdowns. It was better than his 2024 campaign but certainly nowhere near his peak back in 2021.
As for Greenlaw, it seems like he wanted to prove he could exist outside the shadow of Fred Warner and went to the Denver Broncos. Injuries derailed his tenure there almost as soon as it started, and he lost the trust of head coach Sean Payton as he only played in eight regular season games. Denver cut the linebacker loose after just one season.
They both had a one-year sojourn. But now, Samuel and Greenlaw are both back and seem to realize just how good they had it in San Francisco. Sometimes players need a bit of a reset or need to leave a good situation and then return feeling rejuvenated like they are back where they belong.
49ers should get the best out of both Deebo Samuel and Dre Greenlaw
Reports from training camp suggest Samuel is looking good, and he has been willing to do anything asked of him, whether that’s play wide receiver or running back or return kicks. While he can certainly be a diva at times, it seems Deebo's second stint with San Francisco won’t have the same drama as the first.
Greenlaw has to be reinvigorated, too, being paired back up with Warner. Those two are such a formidable duo when they’re both healthy and on the field together, so having that tandem back could be absolutely huge.
Both Greenlaw and Samuel thought they were escaping, but they ran into themselves.
Now they’re both back where they belong, realize how good they have it, and seem to be in the perfect frame of mind to contribute to the 49ers in a big way this season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google