The San Francisco 49ers have signed rookie linebacker Fred Warner, who played college football at BYU. He was selected in the third round with the No. 70 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
"This whole experience is surreal, even still," Warner told reporters before Wednesday's practice. "To be able to sign a contract and just be able to provide for my family, just with what me and my family has gone through, it's huge. Everybody talks about the dream, and so this is it."
Tackle Mike McGlinchey and wide receiver Dante Pettis are the only remaining unsigned draft picks from the 49ers' 2018 class.
In four seasons with the Cougars, Warner registered 262 combined tackles, 32.5 for a loss, 6.5 sacks, seven interceptions, two touchdowns, 13 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries, according to Sports Reference. In his last two seasons with BYU, he recorded 173 total tackles, 19.5 for a loss, 2.5 sacks, and four interceptions. In 2016, Warner was named a first-team All-Independent. Last year, he had three games with at least 10 combined tackles.
Thanks to the 2011 CBA, all rookie contracts are now for a length of four years. Only first-round selections come with an option for a fifth year, which does not apply to Warner. Having set numbers for each spot eliminates the need to negotiate salaries and only leaves items like bonus payment terms, roster bonus allocations, and other miscellaneous structural items.
The total value of Warner's four-year contract is believed to be $3,470,188, or very close to that amount, according to Over the Cap. That includes a signing bonus of $1,010,188 and a 2018 salary cap figure of $732,547.