All-Pro LB explains why the 49ers Decision to trade him to Cowboys in the 2024 NFL Draft Picks
Prior to the start of free agency, the San Francisco 49ers believed they’d found a solution to the hole they have at linebacker after agreeing to terms with free agent Eric Kendricks.
But days later, Kendricks had second thoughts and eventually signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Dallas Cowboys — a decision he recently explained to The Athletic that ultimately came down to playing time.
“I think I would’ve taken more of a reserve role [in San Francisco], where as I feel I have a lot left to give and I wanted to be here and be middle linebacker,” Kendricks said. “I wanted to share my experience with the team, share my leadership abilities and command that huddle.”
Kendricks’ addition was a must-need signing for the Cowboys, who released linebacker Leighton Vander Esch in mid-March, and three days later, he retired due to medical reasons.
Dallas also drafted a linebacker last week, Notre Dame’s Marist Liufau, who is expected to sit and learn from Kendricks next season.
The 32-year-old Kendricks, who was a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler in 2019, spent the first eight years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings before joining the Los Angeles Chargers last year.
He’s logged 100 or more tackles in eight of his nine seasons, including 117 plus 3.5 sacks with the Chargers in 2023.
After losing linebackers Randy Gregory and Oren Burks to free agency, the 49ers signed former Green Bay Packers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell and ex-Arizona Cardinal Ezekiel Turner.
Campbell, 30, has logged 779 tackles and 9.5 sacks over his eight-year career. Turner, 27, has mostly been a depth player during his six-year career, tallying 83 tackles and one forced fumble over 80 games.
Despite a few free agent additions and eight total draft picks, the Dallas Cowboys starters in all three phases of the game will look pretty much the same as they did a season ago. For a team that finished 12-5 last year and made the playoffs, having the majority of their starters return should be viewed as a good thing, but it’s his new faces that will likely determine their success or failure in 2024.
Today, we are going to attempt to predict the Cowboys starters this year in all three phases in an attempt to get a better understanding of where things stand right now, and where they could still attempt to improve. After all, there is still plenty of time to make a few moves here and there before the 2024 season gets underway.
