49ers trade for pass rusher Randy Gregory after Broncos benching

The Broncos traded Randy Gregory to the 49ers, with the exchange of draft picks and Denver covering most of Gregory's salary.

The Denver Broncos made a significant trade on Friday, sending benched pass rusher Randy Gregory to the San Francisco 49ers. In addition to Gregory, the teams also exchanged 2024 draft picks, with Denver giving up a seventh-round selection for a sixth-round choice.

Broncos coach Sean Payton confirmed the trade after Friday's practice. He had previously stated that the team felt it was in their best interest to give more playing time to younger players.

As part of the deal, the Broncos, who currently have a 1-3 record, will be taking on the majority of Gregory's remaining salary for this season, which amounts to $10.9 million.

The news of the trade was met with excitement from 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead, who took to social media to express his enthusiasm. Armstead encouraged fans to be excited about the addition of Gregory, stating that he believes Gregory will be a valuable asset to the team. Armstead also took the opportunity to thank Kerry Hyder Jr., who led the 49ers in sacks in 2020 and played a key role in their journey to the NFC championship game in 2022.

The decision to trade Gregory comes just 18 months after the Broncos signed him to a lucrative five-year, $70 million contract. During his time in Denver, Gregory played in only 10 out of a possible 21 games, recording three sacks and undergoing two surgeries.

Gregory was benched in favor of second-year outside linebacker Nik Bonitto in the Broncos' last game against the Chicago Bears. Bonitto had an impressive performance, tallying 2½ sacks, including a strip-sack that led to a crucial touchdown in the fourth quarter, ultimately helping the Broncos secure their first win of the season under Payton.

Gregory's benching came after a lackluster performance against the Miami Dolphins, where he failed to make a single tackle and had no sacks or pressures on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins' dominant 70-20 victory over the Broncos was one of the most lopsided blowouts in NFL history.

Before joining the Broncos, Gregory was close to re-signing with the Dallas Cowboys. However, Broncos general manager George Paton offered him a contract with $28 million in guarantees, ultimately swaying Gregory's decision.

Since being activated from the commissioner's exempt list in October 2020, Gregory has stayed out of trouble and avoided any off-the-field issues. However, injuries have limited his playing time, with a knee injury sidelining him for most of the 2022 season after he missed all of training camp due to shoulder surgery. He recorded two sacks last year and one sack so far this season.

Despite his clean record off the field, Gregory has failed to live up to the expectations set by his hefty contract in terms of on-field production.

The Broncos' pass rush is expected to receive a boost with the impending return of Frank Clark and Baron Browning, both of whom have been recovering from injuries.

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