The 49ers added a top edge rushing talent in Randy Gregory last week with a deal that, in NFL terms, amounted to pennies on the dollar. They then proceeded to demolish Gregory’s NFL alma mater in the Dallas Cowboys in a 42-10 thrashing.
It’s a rich-get-richer type of acquisition that brought a stellar (when healthy and available) pass rusher for the price of a late-round pick swap. San Francisco will pay him the pro-rated NFL minimum salary and traded their upcoming seventh-round pick for Denver’s upcoming sixth-round pick.
But how did Gregory go from signing a five-year, $70 million deal with the Broncos (a late renege after initially agreeing to the same numbers, with different contract language regarding suspensions, with the Cowboys), to being cast off for next to nothing?
It’s not all that surprising given the Nathan Hackett disaster in Denver last season, where Gregory played just five games before missing the rest of the season following knee surgery on a damaged meniscus.
With a new regime in place and this season off to a nightmarish start, Sean Payton looked to cut deadwood and get rid of veteran players who were not part of his vision. That included Gregory, who was reportedly going to be released before the deal with the 49ers came into place.
He said he and his agent had a “little bit” of say in where he went and that the Broncos are likely headed towards a rebuild. Parting ways made sense:
I’m in a better spot, I believe. Look, you know how the NFL goes. I’ve been there for two years. I’ve had some new staffs and this staff — at the end of the day, I think there’s a lot of moving parts, a lot of guys getting a lot of confidence on my side of the ball.
Probably in a state we were looking to rebuild get some new leadership, things like that. At the end of the day, ultimately, I wasn’t part of that plan. So I think it’s better that it happened this early in the season, kind of get me into a new place, get me acclimating, get them going in their own direction.
The question now becomes about availability. The 49ers didn’t try and have Gregory play last weekend given the short turnaround, allowing him to head back to Denver to get his things in order before returning to the Bay.
Gregory has missed 54 games due to suspensions (including all of the 2017 and 2019 seasons) and another 20 due to injury. In total, Gregory has played 60 of a possible 134 games over the course of his career.
Those suspensions have been a result of violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Gregory has taken ownership for those issues, and has spoken openly about mental health struggles. He hasn’t missed a game due to suspension since being reinstated in 2020.
He said he expects the change of scenery, on a competitive team, to benefit him mentally.
“Me, mentally? [It benefits me] big time,” Gregory said. “I’ve always been a part of winning cultures all the way back to Pop Warner Football. So to not be in a winning culture is tough for me mentally, especially when I’m one of those guys you’re looking to make plays out there. Being able to step into somewhere where there is a winning culture and they’re winning right now, obviously they got a lot on the line. They’re seeing the big picture.”
When asked about his struggles with substance abuse, he pointed towards feeling mentally healthy.
“I think I have everything where it needs to be,” Gregory said. “Mentally, if I’m in order and that aspect, I’m pretty good. My family life’s pretty good right now. Kids are happy and fed. Have a newborn, so I’m a little bit worried about that. I won’t be at home with him, but I understand what’s at stake and I’m a big boy and I’ve got a job to take care of.”
Now it’s up to Gregory adjusting to the scheme. While Kris Kocurek is generally straightforward in his asks of defensive linemen, Nick Bosa said there are “nuances” and details that take adjusting to.
Kyle Shanahan did not confirm that he would play this weekend, saying they’d need to see him in practice throughout the week first.
As far as his physical health goes, Gregory said his knee is in good shape and that he expects to benefit from playing from a three-point stance as opposed to the stand-up technique used in Vance Joseph’s scheme in denver.
Based on the reaction from his defensive line coaches in practice on Wednesday, they liked what they saw:
If Gregory does play Sunday — and that would seem likely — the 49ers probably won’t start him right away. You’d imagine the likes of Clelin Ferrell and Drake Jackson would still remain in the rotation, but it will be interesting nonetheless to see how San Francisco uses Gregory off the bat.