49ers sign former All-Pro Packers LB to 1-year deal

The 49ers have their Dre Greenlaw stopgap. After a deal with veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks fell through -- he reneged and joined the Dallas Cowboys on a better deal -- San Francisco has turned to Packers linebacker De'Vondre Campbell.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport , it's a one-year deal for the 2021 first team All-Pro.

Now, Campbell is an interesting case of a player who struggled mightily early on in his career, spending the first four years in Atlanta (a former 2016 fourth-round pick), then a year in Arizona before heading to Green Bay where he broke out in a 146-tackle season.

He parlayed that into a five-year, $50 million deal which the Packers terminated earlier this week as a post-June 1 release. Like Arik Armstead, he cannot join his new team until June 1, but the early designation allowed him to find a new team.

Since 2021, Campbell has dealt with injuries, and been open about his displeasure at playing through them. Campbell missed three games due to an ankle injury and another three with a neck injury. He tweeted the following, then missed the next two regular season games, but played in both playoff games:

Campbell's injury history is a concern, and his play has certainly declined since 2021. Despite that, he has been productive when on the field, and the 49ers bring him in with the hope that he can fill in for Dre Greenlaw, who is almost certain to miss some of the season in his recovery from a torn Achilles.