When the 49ers were able to acquire defensive end Randy Gregory from the Broncos back in October, it was a low-cost move of sorts. San Francisco gave up virtually nothing to get Gregory, trading a sixth-round pick in the deal but getting back a seventh-rounder. The hope was that Gregory still had something left to contribute to a 49ers pass rush that needed help for Nick Bosa.
It did not quite work out, however. Gregory did secure a sack and three tackles for a loss in his debut with the 49ers, the 19-17 loss to the Browns in Week 6, but that was probably the highlight of his season. He was in the rotation throughout the year but played less as the season progressed.
The 49ers have shown no interest in re-signing Gregory, who is aiming for a 10th NFL season, including two for which he was suspended because of his past substance abuse issues. One of the 49ers’ top rivals, however, the NFC West stalwart Seahawks, are showing interest in Gregory, according to a report from CBS Sports.
“I’m told the #Seahawks are among teams that have shown preliminary interest in Randy Gregory, per source. New #Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde was in Dallas as a defensive line coach when Gregory was with the #Cowboys,” Josina Anderson of CBS reported on Monday.
Randy Gregory Overcame Substance Abuse Problems
Though he did not work out as a long-term option in San Francisco, and although it would be preferable if he signed anywhere but Seattle, it is easy to root for Gregory to get another NFL chance. His is a story of wasted opportunities and still some hope for redemption.
After spending his first six seasons with the Cowboys battling his demons and the consequences that came from his substance abuse suspensions—in addition to missing 2017 and 2019, he was suspended for the first six games of 2020—Gregory appeared to turn things around ahead of the 2021 season.
“It’s a lot of self-love,” Gregory told reporters in Dallas during the Cowboys’ mandatory minicamp in 2021. “There was a time in my life when you could ask me to say one good thing about myself and I couldn’t. I could say 20 bad things.
“I have come a long way from that. I can say a lot of good things about myself. I am proud of myself. I am proud of where I am at. I am proud of the journey I took. A lot of guys don’t make it as far as I have.”
Gregory had an exceptional 2021 season and turned that into a five-year, $70 million contract offer from the Broncos. So there was some redemption in that.
49ers Revamping Defensive Front
But things did not go well in Denver. Gregory suffered a knee injury in Week 4 in what was a disastrous season all around for the Broncos in 2022, and was limited to six games.
He was playing uninspiring football for the Broncos again this year when Denver began shopping him for a trade, with an eye on simply waiving him if there were no takers. The 49ers picked him up as a low-risk gamble.
Gregory was a contributor, but the 49ers entered the offseason seeking a revamp of their defense, starting with the front line. They added veterans Jordan Elliott and Maliek Collins to the interior line after the surprise release of Arik Armstead, then they added Jordan Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos to assist on the edge. They might also increase their depth in the draft.
Gregory will not be with the 49ers going forward. However, the team may encounter him multiple times next year.
