Randy Gregory trade grades: Broncos veteran pass rusher joining 49ers for swap of late-round picks

The Denver Broncos had been reportedly set to free up veteran pass rusher Randy Gregory until a trade spouse emerged within the 11th hour. According to CBS Sports Lead NFL Insider Jonathan Jones, that trade spouse is the San Francisco 49ers, who agreed to ship a 2024 sixth-round select to Denver for Gregory and a 2024 seventh-rounder, per ESPN.

The 30-year-old outdoor linebacker signed a five-year deal price as much as $70 million with the Broncos all over the 2022 offseason, and it was once a call basic supervisor George Paton most probably regrets. In 10 video games with Denver, Gregory recorded 21 blended tackles, 3 sacks and two compelled fumbles.

Per ESPN, the Broncos can pay Gregory kind of $10 million for the rest of the 2023 season. The 49ers can pay Gregory the veteran minimal. Something else to notice is that whilst Gregory has 3 years final on his present deal, none of it’s assured past 2023. When it got here to the verdict to free up the pass rusher, ESPN reported that the Broncos sought after, “to focus on its young players.” 

In 60 profession NFL games, Gregory has recorded 106 blended tackles and 19.5 sacks. Now, the previous second-round select of the Dallas Cowboys will get a metamorphosis of surroundings — and it is a beautiful just right one at that. Gregory joins a pass-rush rotation that comes with the likes of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa, Clelin Ferrell and Drake Jackson. The 49ers have one of the most productive defenses within the league, and make allowance 14.5 issues in keeping with sport via 4 weeks. That is tied for third-best within the NFL. 

Let’s try to grade this trade:

Broncos: F

On one hand, the Broncos were given a sixth-round select for a seventh-round select for a participant they had been going to free up. But this transaction is extra about cash. It’s arduous to forget about the truth that this unique signing was once a mistake for Denver.

Back in March of 2022, Gregory walked clear of a five-year deal in Dallas that was once price upward of $70 million with $28 million assured. Why? There was once language incorporated within the contract that Gregory’s camp didn’t like. So, the pass rusher was once off to Denver on what was once just about an equivalent deal. After simply 10 video games performed for the Broncos, he is long gone.

The five-year contract was once considered as a menace from the leap, and now, the Broncos can be paying Gregory $10 million to hurry the passer for arguably the most productive crew within the NFL. 

49ers: A-

A low-risk, high-reward transfer for San Francisco. Gregory, on the very least, is usually a rotational spark plug introduced off the bench for the 49ers, and they do not have to one) pay him large cash in 2023, and a couple of) decide to him previous this season. A forged get for basic supervisor John Lynch as he continues to chase a Super Bowl.