49ers Bet on Undrafted Linebacker Larry Worth III With Three-Year Deal

The 49ers signed linebacker Larry Worth III to a three-year contract on Monday, banking on an undrafted edge-rusher prospect who impressed during rookie minicamp tryouts. The move came with a corresponding cut of linebacker Milo Eifler, marking a clear roster reshuffling at a position where San Francisco's defensive identity has been under pressure.

Worth's resume carries legitimate college tape. The Jacksonville State-to-Arkansas transfer appeared in 12 games with 11 starts in 2025, recording 64 tackles and a pass defensed. Over four seasons across both programs, he compiled 201 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, six passes defensed, three forced fumbles, and one interception—production numbers that hint at a high-motor, physical defender rather than a scheme-dependent playmaker. His path from walk-on to scholarship to SEC starter demonstrates the kind of developmental runway San Francisco clearly believes in.

The timing of this signing aligns with the 49ers' ongoing linebacker depth questions. Kyle Shanahan's defensive scheme demands linebackers who can scrape sideline-to-sideline and maintain gap integrity against the run while staying flexible enough to cover slot receivers in coverage. Worth's tackle volume and forced fumble rate suggest the kind of aggressive, instinctive play the system requires. At a three-year commitment, the team is betting on film translation from SEC competition rather than name recognition or draft pedigree.

For bettors, this move edges San Francisco's defensive profile slightly tighter. The linebacker upgrade—if Worth performs to expectation—compounds the 49ers' ability to compress run plays and stunt linebackers at the line of scrimmage. This matters directly for team totals and point spreads. A more reliable linebacker corps reduces garbage-time touchdowns and late-game offensive desperation drives. Against opponents ranked bottom-half in rushing production, look for the 49ers spread to hold firm or even contract; conversely, against elite rushing attacks, the unders on San Francisco team totals gain modest leverage. The move itself is incremental, but in a league where linebackers can swing 2–3 points across a season, Worth's immediate integration into the rotation carries real positional weight.