DeForest Buckner is officially back with the San Francisco 49ers, making him the latest in a growing list of star players who left only to find their way right back to Santa Clara. We’re talking Dre Greenlaw, Deebo Samuel, Kendrick Bourne, and now Buckner. It’s wild, right? You see one or two guys go back to their original squad, but not at this rate. It really makes you wonder what’s going on down there.
The Grass Isn’t Always Greener, No Matter How Much It Costs
There are two major takeaways from this bizarre trend. The first is that the 49ers might just be a first-class organization, doing things differently. Take Mike Evans, for example. He wanted to play with Brock Purdy, and George Kittle apparently sealed the deal by hyping up all the unique stuff the 49ers offer. We’re talking modern tech, personalized nutritionists instead of just a team guy, and other “small things that cost a lot of money and don’t show up on a salary cap sheet.” Sounds fancy.
But the second, and perhaps more brutal, takeaway? The grass is definitely not always greener on the other side. Just ask Dre Greenlaw. He bounced for a three-year, $35 million deal with the Denver Broncos. What did that get him? Eight games, a release after one season, and him feeling like the whole thing was handled poorly. He even had some choice words for Broncos head coach Sean Payton. Then there’s Deebo Samuel. He went to the Washington Commanders and suddenly he’s getting a measly 17 carries. That’s after he averaged around 45 carries a season over his previous four years with the 49ers. Same player, completely different usage. It was so brief, Samuel said he felt like he never even left. These guys found out the hard way that a bigger paycheck or a new role doesn’t always translate to a better situation.
Buckner’s Back, and What It Means for Future Free Agents
Now, DeForest Buckner is the latest name on this list of returning players. The Chicago Bears were reportedly hot on his trail in this week’s NFC arms race, but Buckner himself wanted San Francisco. Back in 2020, reports said he was unhappy with the extension offer, which is totally fair. But if there were truly “burned bridges” then, would he really be pushing so hard to go back? Doubtful.
This whole saga isn’t just about the 49ers being a first-class operation, or players realizing they made a mistake. It’s a massive lesson for rookies whose contracts are about to expire. Sure, chase that big money,and you absolutely should,but now you’ve got three players in the building (minus Bourne, who was only back for 2025) who went for a better deal or a different role and know exactly what it’s like to leave the 49ers, sometimes frustrated.
This isn’t to say players should just take whatever cheap deal the 49ers throw at them. Sometimes, letting players go *is* the 49ers’ mistake. They used the savings from Buckner’s 2020 deal to extend Arik Armstead and Jimmie Ward, but the trade itself, which netted a first-rounder from the Indianapolis Colts, completely backfired. Javon Kinlaw, the pick meant to replace Buckner, just did not work out. But this trend? It’s a wake-up call for every player thinking about jumping ship for the biggest payday: the 49ers might just have something special you can’t find anywhere else.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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