Another player has departed.
Former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Oren Burks is signing with the Philadelphia Eagles on a one-year deal worth up to $2.5 million, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
Burks was a key special teams player for the 49ers for the last two years. He even provided emergency relief whenever the 49ers needed it on defense like in the Super Bowl. Burks would play for practically three quarters of the Super Bowl when Dre Greenlaw went down with a torn Achilles.
He performed admirably given he wasn’t supposed to be in that spot. Burks likely ends up in the same role as a pivotal special teams player who can provide linebacker relief on defense whenever fit. Losing him isn’t a downer at all for the 49ers. They re-signed Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and signed former Green Bay Packers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell.
The position is set after those two were signed, so Burks would be the odd man out. Campbell will serve as a placeholder for Greenlaw until he is ready to make his return. As for filling the special teams role of Burks, that can go to anyone. I’d imagine one of the young players in Dee Winters or Jalen Graham will be tasked for it.
You do have to wonder if drafting a linebacker is on the table for the 49ers. Graham and Winters were sixth- and seventh-round picks in the draft. The 49ers don’t really need them to pan out as more than special teams players. And there could be concern with Greenlaw being able to return to the player he once was.
It is something to think about now that the linebacker position is set for the 49ers.
