Dre Greenlaw, Charvarius Ward rank high on ESPN's list of top 50 free agents

It would have been nicer if ESPN ranked both Charvarius Ward and Dre Greenlaw lower so 31 other teams wouldn't be as inclined to sign them away from the Niners this offseason.

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward (7) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57)
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward (7) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) | Mike Comer/GettyImages

To no one's surprise, two 49ers defensive stars are going to be sought-after free agents this offseason.

The San Francisco 49ers don't have a lengthy list of notable pending free agents entering the 2025 offseason, but the headliners are certainly worth pointing out.

Two of the Niners' most vital defenders over the last three seasons are hitting the open market: cornerback Charvarius Ward and linebacker Dre Greenlaw.

San Francisco spent plenty of time last season understanding what its defense would be like without both players, as Ward missed time because of the tragic passing of his one-year-old daughter, while Greenlaw missed all but two games after suffering a torn Achilles in the Super Bowl last February.

Despite some concerns regarding both players health and age entering the offseason, both are expected to command a lot of attention on the free-agent market.

And ESPN's latest ranking of the top 50 free agents in 2025 will reinforce that.

Dre Greenlaw, Charvarius Ward rank in top 15 of ESPN's top 50 free agents

Greenlaw came in on ESPN's list at No. 15, trailing only the Philadelphia Eagles' Zach Baun (No. 12 overall) for players at his position.

Ward, meanwhile, was at No. 8, trailing cornerback D.J. Reed (No. 4) for defensive backs.

There are already signs neither player will return to the 49ers in 2025, particularly Ward, who understandably cited emotional and mental trauma from being in California at the time of his daughter's passing.

Hard to fault him there.

Meanwhile, families of both Greenlaw and fellow linebacker Fred Warner dropped social media hints that suggested the dynamic duo would be broken up this offseason. While that context could certainly change, namely in light of a would-be Greenlaw re-sign deal, the foreshadowing is troublesome for a Niners defense that sorely lacked his presence ever since the injury suffered last February.

Tack on the fact ESPN views Greenlaw as a top-15 free agent, while also anticipating him being fully healthy, and it'll be a challenge for San Francisco to retain one of its best players hitting the open market this March.

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