BRONCOS TRADE RANDY GREGORY TO THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Despite initial reports that the Denver Broncos intended to release veteran defensive end Randy Gregory, the team ended up completing a late-round swap trade with the San Francisco 49ers on Friday instead, as first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Both the Broncos and the Niners announced that Denver acquired a 2024 sixth-round pick in exchange for Gregory and a 2024 seventh-round pick. The Broncos initially planned to release the former Nebraska Cornhusker but never officially processed the move, leaving a trade outlet for the organization. San Francisco released 32-year-old DL Kerry Hyder Jr. on Friday in order to make room on the 53-man roster for Gregory.
After signing a huge five-year, $70 million deal in free agency last year, Gregory now leaves Denver a paid man and is expected to ultimately secure over $27 million from his contract, which included two years of full guarantees. As per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Denver will pay roughly $10 million of Gregory’s salary for the remainder of the season with the Niners paying the veteran minimum for the rest of the year. The 30-year-old will have three years left on his deal after 2023, none of it is guaranteed after this season.
A Florida native, Gregory only managed to play in 10 total games for the Denver Broncos, recording 21 total tackles, 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Denver’s defense has had a rocky start to the season as the team stumbled to a 1-3 start with the unit allowing a league-high 150 points thus far.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton told reporters on Wednesday that the team thought it best to go in a different direction with Gregory and give more time to the younger players. “[It was] something we felt was just best for our team right now timing wise,” said Payton. “It hasn’t been finalized because, typically, before a transaction takes place, there may be some teams interested in a trade, but… We just felt some of our younger players and where we’re going, it was best for our team.”
The move is a welcome change of scenery for Gregory who now joins a top three defense that is primed to make a deep playoff run.
“Two years ago, when we played them in Dallas, he was as good of a rusher as we had gone against,” said 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. “Being able to add a guy like that, we feel he will make our team better and that’s why we didn’t hesitate to do it.”
Gregory has, in recent history, had a big effect on the 49ers with his sack as a Cowboy against Jimmy Garoppolo in the 2021 playoffs having a snowball effect on what the Niners did regarding the quarterback position.
Gregory’s take down ruled out Garoppolo with a shoulder injury and in effect prevented a possible trade away for the 49ers quarterback. San Francisco would then re-sign Jimmy in the summer of 2022, which set up an ideal bridge from Trey Lance to Brock Purdy when Lance went down with a broken ankle in Week 2.
“He’s everything that we’re about,” San Francisco 49ers’ All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams told the media on Friday. “A guy who plays like his hair is on fire, a guy who will give you 100% to the whistle. Obviously, a great pass-rusher, [who] will get after the quarterback, [and] sets the edge in the run game. So, everything we’re about, he’s about. It’s a perfect fit.”
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Friday that Gregory won’t make his Niners debut on Sunday against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, as San Francisco welcomes its old rival to Levi Stadium on Sunday Night Football at 8:20pm ET.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
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