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GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during warmups before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers continue to tweak their roster after the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft. With eight picks scattered between the second and fifth rounds, the 49ers were able to add an influx of young talent to a roster slowly getting older and more expensive over the last few years. And they aren’t done yet.
On Monday, the 49ers announced they had signed undrafted free agent LB Larry Worth III to a three-year contract to bring him on for training camp with a chance to make the final 53-man roster. Worth spent two seasons at Jacksonville State before finishing his collegiate career at Arkansas over the past two years. In total, Worth had 201 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, six passes defensed, an interception, and three forced fumbles between the two programs.
In a corresponding move, San Francisco cut LB Milo Eifler, whom they signed a futures deal with back in January. Originally an undrafted free agent out of Illinois, Eifler’s only NFL game action came back in 2022 with Washington, when he had four tackles across 10 games.
GettyMEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 27: Jalin Conyers #12 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders stiff arms Larry Worth III #30 of the Arkansas Razorbacks (now of the San Francisco 49ers) during the first half of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on December 27, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
It’s no secret how badly the 49ers were impacted by injuries last season, especially on defense. It’s a testament to San Francisco’s depth and coaching that not only did they remain competitive down the stretch, but they made the playoffs as the NFC’s No. 6 seed in the toughest division in football, even winning a road playoff game in Philadelphia before bowing out against the eventual champion Seahawks.
Fred Warner is a perennial All-Pro and unquestionably the best linebacker in the league. The 49ers sorely missed him in the second half of the 2025 season after a compound fracture in his dislocated ankle ended his season prematurely. He’ll be back, and hopefully at full strength.
Warner isn’t the only San Francisco linebacker who will return, however — after one season in Denver, Dre Greenlaw is back with the 49ers. He and Warner formed a formidable duo in the middle of that defense for years, and now they’ll be back it again. After the team traded Dee Winters to the Cowboys, who gave the 49ers quality play in Warner’s stead, San Francisco needed a second starter in their 3-4 scheme. Greenlaw fills that role.
Luke Gifford and Tatum Bethune are the primary backups behind Warner and Greenlaw. Perhaps Worth can work his way into that mix, as well.
The Seahawks just won the Super Bowl and the Rams were right there with them last season — and after some offseason additions, now look like the best team in football.
But don’t count the 49ers out just yet. This is an extremely potent offense paired with a defense that continues to reload and with better health, should be that much more dangerous. The NFC West will be an absolute gauntlet in 2026.
Ethan Woodie is an accomplished sports writer specializing in the NFL and college football for Heavy.com. He's written for Heavy since 2025 and has years of experience writing for NFL Trade Rumors and Pro Football Focus (PFF). Woodie is an expert in draft scouting and his Big Board was included in Arif Hasan's media consensus board for Wide Left in both 2025 and 2026. More about Ethan Woodie
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