Can Randy Gregory boost 49ers pass rush?

The San Francisco 49ers have traded for Denver Broncos OLB, Randy Gregory. The veteran pass rusher was believed to have been released on Wednesday, but the Broncos never formally did so. The 49ers reportedly are releasing Kerry Hyder, Jr. to make room for Gregory, who Kyle Shanahan said would not play on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

Gregory, 30, has had an up-and-down career, never developing into the player he was drafted to be. The Cowboys selected Gregory in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft. Of course, the 49ers already have a history with Gregory. He was the Dallas defensive player who injured Jimmy Garoppolo's right shoulder in the 2021 NFL Wild Card game. And that injury may have cost the 49ers a chance to win another Super Bowl. But that's a different story.

Gregory was supposed to become a feared pass rusher, but he's more fearsome off the field than he has been on the field. The former Nebraska standout has been suspended by the NFL multiple times, missing a total of 54 games due to suspension alone. Gregory missed:

• 14 games in 2016 for violations of the NFL's substance abuse policy
• The entire 2017 season, two games in 2018, and the entire 2019 season for multiple violations
• The first six games of 2020

But that's all in the past. Gregory turned a corner, and in 2021, Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, named Gregory to the Cowboys players' council, a leadership committee of 14 players that the coaches rely on to take the temperature of the locker room. Now Kris Kocurek has the opportunity to work with Gregory. And if the 49ers' defensive line coach can pull some of that potential out of the veteran defender, it could be a huge boost for the 49ers pass rush.

Shanahan, who spoke to the media on Friday after news of the trade dropped, said, "There's a lot of people I know really well, who speak very highly of him. That was consistent. From the type of person that I've been told that he is, we're very excited to have him."

49ers tackle Trent Williams seems to approve of the trade. Williams added, "He's everything that we're about. A guy who plays like his hair is on fire. A guy who plays 100 percent until the final whistle."

For now, the attention will turn to Gregory's potential impact on the 49ers defense. He recorded six sacks in two different seasons, 2018 and 2021. Last season, Gregory forced two fumbles and had two sacks, but he only played in six games, due to injury. Gregory has started three of the Broncos' four games this season and has recorded one sack and two QB hits.

His numbers won't get fans excited, but Gregory could potentially help bolster the 49ers pass rush. If he can, he could be an important piece in winning a championship. So what does he bring to Steve Wilks' defense? Here are three things:

1. Quality depth

The 49ers edge rush position hasn't been very deep with quality pass rushers. Clelin Ferrell and Drake Jackson have done a good job, but both, who started the season on fire, have cooled off in recent weeks. And you can always use more talented pass rushers. Beyond Nick Bosa, Ferrell, and Jackson, the cupboard has been bare. Hyder, Jr. never returned to his 2020 form. And Robert Beal, Jr. is still on IR and is a project needing time to develop. So Gregory will look to fill that void and add some quality depth.

2. Veteran presence

Not only can Gregory add some veteran presence on the field, he can add some experience in the locker room. As noted, Gregory has been through a lot of turmoil. His multiple suspensions were mostly due to violations of the NFL's Substance Abuse Policy. The fact that Gregory became a leader in the Dallas locker room should be an encouraging sign that the veteran linebacker has turned a corner and is now sharing what he's learned with other players.

With young players like Jackson and Beal, Jr., having someone like Gregory, who has seen the good and bad, can be a great resource for teaching younger guys about some of the things they could face—on and off the field.

3. Pass rush talent

The 49ers' pass rush has been good so far this season. But they haven't been getting home as often as expected. That's largely due to the fact that opposing offenses have been getting rid of the ball quickly, negating the pass rush at times. Gregory can potentially bring some speed to the defense to help get after the passer even quicker.

When he wasn't injured or suspended, Gregory was a talented edge rusher while in Dallas. He has 19.5 career sacks, which is underwhelming when you consider what he was thought to be capable of. But when you look at the number of games he's missed, you can see that there has been production when he's actually played.

And he's played a lot of snaps this season. He hasn't been spectacular, but he has made some plays. And with better players around him, the 49ers hope that Gregory's talent can really shine.

Can Randy Gregory boost the 49ers' pass rush? He has the talent. Now we'll just have to see if San Francisco can pull it out of him.