Prior to his final trade to the Dallas Cowboys a few hours ago, Eric Kendricks disclosed a great deal about the 49ers.
This summer, veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks decided to sign with the Dallas Cowboys rather than the San Francisco 49ers. He stated that he did this because he felt he still had a lot to offer as a key member of a defense, and he would not have had as much of a role with the 49ers.
According to Jon Machota of The Athletic, Eric Kendricks stated, “I think I would have taken more of a reserved role (in San Francisco), where I feel I have a lot left to give and I wanted to be here and be middle linebacker.”
“I wanted to command that huddle, impart my leadership skills, and share my experience with the team.”
Due to their lack of major acquisitions this summer as they continue to manage Dak Prescott’s large 2024 salary cap cost, the Cowboys have found themselves in a bit of a budget crunch. On a $3.5 million, one-year deal, Kendricks was a less expensive veteran signing.
Kendricks makes perfect sense, especially considering the Cowboys’ limited budget this summer and the departure of Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator and the arrival of Mike Zimmer as coach. For eight of his nine NFL seasons, Kendricks was a member of the Minnesota Vikings, mostly under head coach Mike Zimmer.
Kendricks is an experienced defensive coordinator under Zimmer, so he understands how to manage his unit. As the defense’s quarterback, Kendricks will probably be in charge of making sure that everyone on that side of the ball is acting appropriately. Although Kendricks is not the player he was in 2019, when he was selected to the Pro Bowl and awarded first-team All-Pro honors, he will still be a valuable leader on Dallas’ defense in 2024. Kendricks played his final season with the Los Angeles Chargers.
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