The Dallas Cowboys haven’t been very busy in free agency this year, but one player they did manage to sign was former Chargers linebacker Eric Kendricks , who they stole away from the San Francisco 49ers .
When free agency started back in mid-March, Kendricks originally agreed to terms on a deal with the 49ers, but after thinking things over, the linebacker decided to spurn San Francisco so that he could sign with the Cowboys.
So why did he make that decision?
It seems that it came down to two reasons. First, it appears that Kendricks felt that he would have a better chance at more playing time in Dallas.
“I think I would’ve taken more of a reserve role [in San Francisco], where as I feel I have a lot left to give and I wanted to be here and be middle linebacker,” Kendricks said this week, via The Athletic . “I wanted to share my experience with the team, share my leadership abilities and command that huddle.”
In San Francisco, the 49ers almost certainly viewed Kendricks as insurance for Dre Greenlaw . The 49ers linebacker tore his Achilles in the team’s Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs and it’s not clear when he’ll be back able to return. Greenlaw probably won’t be on the field to start the season, which means Kendricks definitely would have seen some playing time, but that playing time likely would have been cut down once Greenlaw was healthy enough to play.