Fred Warner was among a large contingent of players to report to the San Francisco 49ers this week for the start of Phase Two of the offseason program. Organized team activities begin next week.
Warner is due a huge payday. The young star linebacker is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie deal and has quickly proven himself to be one of the best in the league at his position.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that another young linebacker, Darius Leonard, has already started engaging in discussions with the Indianapolis Colts on a new long-term deal. The Colts selected him 34 spots ahead of where the 49ers drafted Warner, and, like Warner, he certainly has to be in the discussion of the best linebackers in the league.
According to Rapoport, Leonard is reportedly seeking to be the highest-paid linebacker in the league, eclipsing Bobby Wagner's average of $18 million per season.
Rapoport also notes that discussions between the 49ers and their own star linebacker have not yet started. Waiting on Warner could force San Francisco to top whatever Leonard is eventually offered. While there is no deadline this year to get a new deal done, both sides would obviously be more comfortable having something finalized before the start of the upcoming season.
"[The 49ers] would like to lock up Warner, who also could eclipse Bobby Wagner," Rapoport said Tuesday on NFL Network. "Those two sides have not started (discussions) yet, but it's going to be interesting to see the timing of Darius Leonard and Warner to see who goes first in getting paid."
From @NFLTotalAccess: The #Colts and star LB Darius Leonard are talking contract, but the timing could be interesting with #49ers LB Fred Warner also up for a new and very rich deal. pic.twitter.com/AgDxPmJLB1
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 18, 2021
Warner earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors last season despite his team turning in a six-win campaign. He racked up a career-high 125 tackles to go with his five tackles for a loss, seven quarterback hits, one sack, two interceptions, six passes defensed, and one forced fumble.
Warner's 88.6 overall grade last season from Pro Football Focus was the best among linebackers, as was his 91.1 coverage grade. San Francisco made him a third-round pick out of BYU in 2018.
Around the NFL writer Marc Sessler named an extension for Warner as the 49ers' biggest remaining offseason priority.
"Fred Warner is set to earn just $3.4 million this season in the final year of his rookie deal," wrote Sessler for NFL.com. "One of the game's most watchable defenders, Warner finished as PFF's top linebacker in 2020, a feat buoyed by his position-best grade in coverage. He's durable -- with 51 straight appearances, including the playoffs -- a team captain and arguably the heart of San Francisco's defense. It's fair to wonder if the Niners are saving their pennies for a run at Julio Jones, but Warner's next up for a robust new deal."