The accolades don't end for San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, who Pro Football Focus has identified as the team's most improved player in 2020. Warner is preparing to enter his fourth NFL season and is due to receive a contract extension — a situation worth keeping an eye on this offseason.
Each team's most improved player is based on Pro Football Focus' analytics and production compared to previous seasons.
"Warner was clearly a good linebacker entering the 2020 season," wrote Ben Linsey, "but he might have come out of the 2020 season as the best linebacker in the NFL. Based purely on his position-high 88.6 PFF grade — a significant jump over 64.1 and 63.5 marks in his first two seasons — Warner was the best linebacker in the league this past season."
Warner, 24, recorded a team-leading and career-high 125 tackles this past season, per Pro Football Reference. He added five tackles for a loss, seven quarterback hits, two interceptions, a sack, six passes defensed, and a forced fumble through 16 games.
"His instincts and feel in zone coverage paired with his athleticism play extremely well in coverage, where his 91.1 coverage grade led all linebackers," added Linsey. "With linebackers coach DeMeco Ryans earning a promotion to defensive coordinator to replace Robert Saleh, Warner's momentum should carry over into 2021."
San Francisco made Warner a third-round pick out of BYU in 2018. The linebacker earned his first Pro Bowl selection and was named a first-team All-Pro for his impressive play this past season.